SECOND XI: Jones hits 108 as Lancashire dominate
Lancashire Cricket’s Second XI dominated Day One of their Championship game against Sussex at Horsham Cricket Club.
Opening batter Michael Jones starred, hitting a brutal century, before the Red Rose picked up four Sussex wickets to put themselves firmly in the box seat at stumps on the end of the first day.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, openers Jones and Kesh Fonseka cashed in. It was Scotland international Jones who led the charge, flying out of the traps on his way to 108 from just 84 deliveries.
His knock, which came inside the first session, saw him strike 11 boundaries and eight maximums. He launched the ball to all parts, clearing the rope over extra cover, down the ground and on one knee over square leg.
That was how he reached three figures, slog sweeping Daniel Ibrahim for six, bringing up a sensational 79-ball hundred. He and Fonseka had long since reached 150 partnership, too, and whilst Jones did the bulk of the scoring, his partner went about his business well.
Fonseka reached his 50 before the lunch interval, with Lancs rapidly approaching 200. Before the openers could bring up an extraordinary milestone in their partnership, Jones was dismissed, caught behind for a superb 108.
The Red Rose went into the lunch break 197-1, with but were three down for just 209 runs in the 31st over, with captain George Bell (9) and Fonseka removed, the latter making 61. Rian Maisuria (18) and Tom Hartley (29) were the next to fall, which brought George Harris and Jack Blatherwick together.
The pair put on a devastating 86 run partnership in just 13.1 overs. Harris hit 64 from only 49 balls, including 13 fours, with Blatherwick scoring 71 off 66, striking three boundaries and clearing the rope seven times.
If Sussex felt they were beginning to get themselves back in the game, that partnership took it away from them again. Harris and Blatherwick were both out bowled, but their partnership helped get Lancs past 400, and into a strong position. 32 from Ollie Sutton ensured the Red Rose got up to 437, in less than 80 overs.
After their runs with the bat, Blatherwick and Sutton got into their work quickly with ball in hand. The new ball pair had a wicket each in their first over. Blatherwick had George Thomas out caught by Bell thanks to a short ball and left-armer Sutton trapped Wilf La Fontaine-Jackson LBW.
Charlie Parkinson (2-10) was then introduced into the attack by skipper Bell, and he made an impact straight away. His second over was a double-wicket maiden, after he bowled Ibrahim and Freddie Price to leave the hosts reeling at 38-4.
Sussex managed to get through to stumps without losing another wicket and ended the day 55-4. It was a day dominated by the Red Rose, with Jones’ brutal 108 helping Lancs lead by 382.
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