MATCH REPORT: Harris hits century on Lancashire return
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A superb century by Marcus Harris spearheaded the Lancashire batting, with the hosts – having been put in – bowled out for 351 just before the close of the first day of this Rothesay County Championship Division Two match with Derbyshire.
The visitors had two overs to face but lost Caleb Jewell when the opener played on to Mitch Stanley in the final over to be 0-1 at stumps.
Harris, who made 125 - his fourth century for Lancashire - built partnerships of 146 with Josh Bohannon (73) and 95 with Michael Jones to steer the Red Rose to 252-3 as tea approached, but the visitors hit back with new signing Shoaib Bashir taking a County Championship best 4-76 as the hosts lost five wickets for 62 runs after tea.
A late rally between Red Rose debutant Paul Coughlin and Mitch Stanley added 35 runs for the ninth wicket to help Lancashire claim a third batting point.
Having helped Victoria win the Sheffield Shield just over one week ago, Harris settled in quickly having come to the crease with Lancashire in early strife on 11-2, having lost both opening batters cheaply; Luke Wells caught at third slip off Ben Aitchison for 4 and Harry Singh from a faint edge to wicketkeeper Brooke Guest off Muhammad Abbas for 3.
Harris forged a determined, steadying partnership with Bohannon as Derbyshire hunted further success after putting Lancashire into bat. Bohannon escaped a tricky, dropped chance at third slip by Martin Andersson when on 14, but the pair reached lunch without further drama on 88-2.
Bohannon went to his fifty, from 93 balls, just after the break and the century partnership followed shortly afterwards from 169 balls with both upping the tempo as the Derbyshire attack toiled on a sunny April afternoon in Manchester.
The visitors finally found a much-needed breakthrough when Bohannon chopped the tenth delivery from England leg spinner Bashir onto his stumps when on 73.
Undeterred, Harris motored on, taking three consecutive boundaries off Anuj Dal and twice launching Bashir for sixes into the pavilion seats.
Having reached his century off 153 balls and looking in great touch, it was something of a surprise when Harris fell in the last over before tea, edging Aitchison to slip where Matt Montgomery took a good, tumbling catch to leave Lancashire 252-4.
Jones, who had swiftly moved on to 42 at the interval, gave a return catch to Bashir diving to his right three overs into the evening session having made 44, and the leg spinner then bowled both Tom Hartley (13) and Tom Bailey (1) after Matty Hurst had driven Dal to Montgomery at mid-off for 32.
A late rally between Coughlin (29), who broke his bat in spectacular fashion hitting a boundary, and Stanley took Lancashire to a third batting point, and Stanley then returned with the ball to strike in the final over.
Marcus Harris was thrilled to have reached three figures on his return.
“It is good to be back,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time here last year, so to get back and spend some time in the middle today was really good.
“I think coming into the day, we were a little bit unsure about how the pitch was going to play. It just looked really different to what we've played on and what I've played on here before, so there was a little bit of the unknown. And then to be two down for not many early on, we were in a tricky position.
“So, to get through to lunch with Josh Bohannon and then go from there was really good.
“Probably, maybe potentially I could have left a few (runs) out there at the end, but yeah, it was just good to spend some time in the middle.
“I think with our bowling attack tomorrow, we’ve already got a wicket. So, I think we could challenge them potentially and have a good day.
“Josh batted really well. He obviously batted really well last week and didn't miss a beat again today, so didn't really feel like he had any pressure on me per se.
“And the boys are just in a good headspace. They batted well last week. You can sort of sense that around the group.
“They're a great bunch of blokes and I love playing here.
“I think, especially having Jimmy as captain, he just brings a little bit more. I think everyone walks a little bit taller when he's around, especially with what he's done. And Crofty's been really good and there's a good vibe around the group.
“It was brilliant in the changing rooms today while the boys were batting, everyone was cheering and having a good time. So yeah, it feels like we're going in the right direction, but the proof will be in the pudding on the field.
“I was talking to Jimmy a little bit this morning about if we do happen to bat first today, if we can put a good score on the board, if there's weather around, we can sort of control the game a little bit.
“It was so handy to get Caleb Jewell out, he can score quite quickly and can get the game away from you a little bit. But they had a good week with the bat last week, so we're going to have to bowl well tomorrow. But yeah, it feels like we're in a good position.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams, Dan Adams
