SECOND XI REPORT: Singh century steers Lancashire to a draw with Yorkshire
An unbeaten 154 by Harry Singh – also his highest score for the Lancashire Second XI – underpinned a determined rearguard action by Lancashire who batted through the final day of the three-day ‘Roses’ friendly with Yorkshire to seal the draw.
Leading on first innings by a massive 463 runs, the visitors had already taken one of the ten wickets needed for victory on the second evening of the match with Lancashire resuming the third day on 40-1 .
Singh and Arav Shetty provided early resistance until the latter popped up a catch to Fin Bean at short midwicket off Jafer Chohan for 44.
But that was the only wicket to fall in the morning session with Lancashire reaching lunch on 133-2, Singh having reached his half century from 98 balls just before the break.
A solid partnership of 85 runs in 31 overs with Academy all-rounder Gennaro Reddy kept the White Rose attack at bay until mid-afternoon when Reddy, having made 30 off 108 balls, edged Jawad Akhtar to slip where Matt Revis took a smart, low catch.
Revis then took a more straightforward offering when Ollie Sutton edged Chohan to slip for 8 off the last ball before tea with Lancashire now 213-4 and 34 overs remaining.
Singh, who had reached his century from 191 balls just before the interval, joined forces with Jack Carney in a partnership of 47 runs off 88 balls but Matt Revis, armed with the new ball, gave the visitors new hope when he struck twice in quick succession having Carney caught behind for 9 and George Harris taken at leg slip for 8 just before the start of the final hour.
But Joe Chapple lent solid support to Singh over the remaining overs to seal the draw with Lancashire 298-6 at the close and the Red Rose opener having batted for 6 hours and 43 minutes, facing 293 balls in a marathon effort for his side.
TEAMS
Lancashire: George Bell (capt/wicketkeeper), Harry Singh, Rian Maisuria, Arav Shetty, George Harris, Ollie Sutton, Joe Chapple, Josh Boyden, Archie Davies, Haider Hussain, Miller Childs, Adnan Miakhel.
Team changes: George Bell and Adnan Miakhel were replaced by Jack Carney and Gennaro Reddy at the start of the third day.
Yorkshire: Noah Kelly (capt), Will Luxton, Jonny Tattersall, Harry Duke (wicketkeeper), Jawad Akhtar, Matt Milnes, Jafer Chohan, Bradley Sylvester, Michael Finan, Ed Burch, Fin Bean, Matt Revis.
Team change: Jonny Tattersall replaced Harry Duke as wicketkeeper at the start of the Lancashire second innings.