MATCH REPORT: Four-wickets by Anderson leads Lancs to a thrilling 29-run victory against Derbyshire
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Four wickets by James Anderson helped complete a brilliant Lancashire fight back as the Red Rose side produced a thrilling 29-run victory against Derbyshire in this Rothesay County Championship Division Two encounter.
The visitors had made short work of getting the remaining four Lancashire second innings wickets at the start of the morning, with Ben Aitchison taking three and Muhammad Abbas the other with the hosts adding just 13 runs to their overnight score of 147-6 to be 160 all out setting Derbyshire the task of scoring 138 to win at Emirates Old Trafford for the first time since 1996.
But Lancashire’s bowlers applied relentless pressure, taking three early wickets before lunch and finishing the job after the break by taking the remaining seven wickets in 16.5 astonishing overs, Derbyshire falling to 108 all out.
It was Aitchison who started the ball rolling for the visitors with his second and third balls of the day both bringing success; Paul Coughlin edging behind a ball that left him off the pitch and Tom Bailey then having his stumps flattened.
Mitch Stanley was lbw to Abbas for 5 having faced 27 balls before Marcus Harris was last out for 66 edging behind off Aitchison attempting to keep the strike from the last ball of the 54th over.
The Derbyshire run chase of 138 began in nervous fashion as Lancashire struck three times to reduce the visitors to 39-3.
Caleb Jewell continued his run of low scores against Lancashire by turning a Bailey delivery to Harris at midwicket having made 5 and that was followed by Matt Montgomery and Brooke Guest edging catches off Coughlin to Michael Jones at first slip for 12 and Harry Singh at second slip for 5 respectively.
Harry Came steadied the innings alongside Martin Andersson to reach lunch on 52-3 but the visitors skipper perished for 30 early in the afternoon after edging behind off Bailey with 65 runs required.
And there was a further dramatic twist when Anderson struck twice in the 27th over, having Andersson caught by Jones at first slip for 15 and Anuj Dal lbw for 0 to leave Derbyshire wobbling on 77-6.
Stanley trapped Luis Reece lbw for 10 and that proved to be the decisive blow with Derbyshire losing their last four wickets for 17 runs as Anderson added to his tally, removing Aitchison and Bashir in a magnificent second spell of 4-7.
Derbyshire’s disarray was summed up when Zak Chappell was run out setting off for a single Abbas never considered to clinch a victory that brings Lancashire 21 points.
“It was a tough week for us. We didn't play our best cricket,” said a delighted, if somewhat relieved, Lancashire captain James Anderson.
“I felt in the first innings we should have scored more with the bat. We had a few guys get in and not go on. It felt like a good pitch to bat on day one.
“And then they batted really well. Second innings, I thought we bowled pretty well throughout the game. I'm really pleased with that.
“And then second innings, again, we're 23 for 5. So we were up against it and we managed to scrape to 160. And it gave us half a chance to get a win. In those situations, you've just got to keep running in and keep believing that something's going to happen.
“We knew yesterday was going to be tough because their bowlers had a good break when they batted. And they've got a good bowling attack.
“So, on that wicket, we knew the new ball was going to be difficult. Obviously, you don't want to be five down in that situation. If you can get to 40-3, you would have been pretty happy with that.
“But then we just ended up having to scrap and got some really good partnerships towards the back end. Tom Hartley with Marcus Harris and then Paul Coghlan with Marcus Harris as well. I thought those partnerships were crucial in the game.
“I think when you win games like that, when it's close, it probably feels better than a comfortable win. But obviously, you don't want it to be like that every week. We've had two games now at the start of this season which we've really had to battle to get results.
“Last week, we came close. This week, we've gone one better, but we've had to work really hard for it.”
“I thought Paul Coughlin was fantastic (on his debut). I thought he was brilliant throughout. I thought he could have got more wickets in the first innings.
“He bowled fantastically well and then broke the game open for us in the second innings. So he's done a great job. That partnership again with Marcus Harris in the second innings, I think he got 35.
“But again, that was crucial in the situation in the game. So I'm delighted for him and delighted that we've got him in our squad. He played a great part in that post-lunch session today.
“In those situations, you're just trying to put as much pressure on as you can.
“We knew if they batted well, then they could get those runs. So we just kept smashing away at the pitch and trying to get some variable bounce or some seam movement and hope that those edges, would result in catches.
“It's just keeping that belief that we could do it all the way through. And I thought we all stuck at it really well, the bowlers and the fielders as well.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams/Dan Adams
