MATCH REPORT: Bohannon century leads strong Lancashire reply against Durham
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An unbeaten century by Josh Bohannon in a 161-run partnership with Matty Hurst came to Lancashire’s rescue on the third day of the Rothesay County Championship Division Two game with Durham at Emirates Old Trafford.
The pair came together with Lancashire four wickets down for 87 runs early in the afternoon, and their alliance across the following 58 overs steered Lancashire into calmer waters as the hosts reached the close on 267-5, trailing by 226 runs with Bohannon unbeaten on 125, ahead of the final day of the season tomorrow.
Lancashire began the day on 10-0 in their first innings following Durham’s imposing 493 all out across the first two days, and after a solid start by Keaton Jennings and Michael Jones, who added another thirty runs, the visitors soon increased their dominance as three wickets fell for 26 runs.
Having made 17, Jennings top-edged a sweep off Calum Parkinson to Shafiqullah Ghafari at deep square leg before Jones was run out for 23 at the bowler's end after Ben McKinney's quick pick up and throw to Parkinson.
When Marcus Harris hit Parkinson high to Ghafari at deep midwicket for 11, Lancashire were once more in early trouble on 66-3 in the run up to lunch. That became 87-4 four overs after the break when Rocky Flintoff was trapped in front for 11 by Brydon Carse.
Bohannon and Hurst dug in and steadily rebuilt with a determined alliance during the afternoon.
Bohannon had taken consecutive fours to third man off Brydon Carse from the fourth and fifth balls he received, but boundaries became a scarcity in face of some accurate, probing deliveries from the Division Two champions attack.
When Hurst cut Colin Ackermann to the backward point ropes for his first boundary it was also the first four struck for 25 overs, a measure of the patient approach by the Red Rose duo.
Their fifty-partnership came from 129 balls at the same time that Bohannon reached his first half century since April off 132 balls, having pulled Ghafari to midwicket for just his third boundary.
By tea the pair had added 78 runs in 32 overs to start to turn the day around for Lancashire, and after the break added to that with aplomb once the new ball was taken, Bohannon driving and cutting consecutive fours off Carse and Hurst pulling to midwicket for four more in the same over.
Hurst followed that with a straight six off Parkinson to bring up the 100 stand off 232 balls before cutting Carse for the three he needed to reach his first half century of the season from 134 balls, with 1 six and 3 fours.
Moments later it was Bohannon’s turn to raise his bat, after glancing Kasey Aldridge for four to fine leg, to acknowledgement the acclaim for his first century of the season, an outstanding, tenacious effort that had taken 217 balls including 7 fours.
It was Parkinson who finally made the breakthrough Durham were desperately seeking when his sharply turning delivery bowled Hurst for a fine, 160-ball, innings of 57 during the final hour.
It was left to Bohannon to bring up the team’s 250 and Lancashire’s first batting point since May, and he will resume alongside Ben Walkden (10 not out) tomorrow after what has been unquestionably Lancashire’s best day with the bat for some time.
Josh Bohannon was naturally delighted to have put three figures on the board today but gave an honest assessment of his season.
“It's been a struggle this season and to do that today is really pleasing,” he said.
“I've been trying to do the same thing since April. I never go out there and don't try my best. No one means to get out.
“But, (it was pleasing) particularly in the last six weeks, what I've been through, getting dropped for the first time since 2019 or 2018, whatever it was, and dealing with that from an individual point of view.
“Not that anyone's entitled to play every game by any stretch. You know, you've got to earn the right, but sort of becoming a regular and sort of feeling like I've earned that spot and then to get everything taken away from you. Rightly so as well, through performances.
“But it's made me work and sort of understand the feeling of wanting it just that little bit more.
“Like I said to Crofty, when he told me after Worcester and we were heading down to Middlesex. You know, it's incredibly hard.
“You're senior player, vice-captain of the club. You want to be out there in the tough moments and you want to be the one that shows and guides these younger guys through and do it for the team.
“Unfortunately, for virtually all the season, I've not been able to do that, which I find incredibly disappointing.
“For myself, I felt a sense of embarrassment. You know, I feel like I've let a lot of people down, but ultimately the decision was the right one. I think it's not acceptable averaging 18, 19, 20, whatever it was, and they're batting number three in a massive team.
“So, I've got no issues at all with the decision and hopefully moving forward it stands me in good stead.
“Looking back on my career, I've had lean seasons and those lean seasons have been averaging 35, 38 and probably not getting the hundreds that I want. Still getting the scores, but not getting the match-winning hundreds, which is what I want to do. Or game-defining innings, as I like to call them.
“After the first two games, I got 90, and 70-odd here. I felt like everything's just starting to click back and that I was in a really good place. It's just not worked out.
“Again, incredibly disappointed in myself and I feel like I've let the team down, most importantly.
“Hopefully I can come back stronger from this having taken the learnings from the last six weeks in particular.
“I'd like to pride myself on the way that I go about things. I don't shy away from hard work.
“These things happen in people's careers, unfortunately. I wouldn't have liked it to go on for so long, but probably at some stage it was going to happen. But ultimately, to play like I did today is really rewarding.
“I just hope that it's one of those seasons that I can write off, finish on a high, have a bit of a break, enjoy some family time and come back stronger next season.
“I'm committed to this club for two more years and hopefully it's a lot longer than two more years. I love this club. I grew up here.
“It's my home team. It's where I want to play all my cricket. And yes, I think today, looking back at the balcony, seeing everyone celebrating that moment is really special and just shows why you want to play here.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
