SECOND XI REPORT: Opening Championship match against Worcestershire ends in a draw
Worcestershire batted through the final day of the opening Second XI Championship Group 1 match at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club to seal a draw after being made to follow-on.
A double century by New Zealand Test batsman Henry Nicholls and an unbeaten century from Ben Allison provided the bulk of the resistance with the pair adding 199 runs in just under 50 overs for the sixth wicket – one run short of the sixth wicket record against Lancashire – to thwart Red Rose hopes of forcing a victory.
With Worcestershire resuming their second innings on 158-3 and 72 runs behind at the start of the day, Lancashire had some early hope when Charlie Barnard trapped Jack Home lbw for 20 and then had Finlay Goodman caught at long on for 17 with the visitors now five wickets down and only 13 runs ahead.
Nicholls, who went to his century before lunch from 160 balls, found great support from Allison as the pair batted through the afternoon session to thwart those ambitions and reach tea on 395-5 - now 115 runs ahead.
Nicholls reached his double century shortly after the interval from 330 balls but then edged off spinner George Bell to Arav Shetty at slip for 215.
There was just enough time left for Allison to reach his century from 151 balls before the players shook hands on the draw with Worcestershire 445-6 and the all-rounder 104 not out.
Points: Lancashire 14, Worcestershire 11
TEAMS
Lancashire: Harry Singh, Kesh Fonseka, Rocky Flintoff, George Bell (wkt), Arav Shetty, George Balderson (capt), Tom Bailey, Ollie Sutton, Josh Boyden, Charlie Barnard, Will Williams, Mitch Stanley.
Substitutes at start of day 3: Joe Moores, Joe Chapple & Hassan Mughal replaced George Balderson, Will Williams & Tom Bailey. Harry Singh took over as captain from George Balderson.
Substitute at start of day 4: Jaden Rose replaced Ollie Sutton.
Worcestershire: Isaac Mohammed, Rehann Edavalath (capt), Henry Nicholls, Seth Essenhigh (wkt), Jack Home, Ben Allison, Rob Jones, Ben Gibbon, Toby Cox, Harry Darley, Yadvinder Singh, Thilan Walallawita.
Substitute at start of day 3: Finlay Goodman for Isaac Mohammed.