SECOND XI REPORT: Singh century boosts Lancs at Southport
Harry Singh and Joe Moores came to Lancashire’s rescue on the third day of this four-day friendly with Yorkshire at Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club.
Singh finished the day unbeaten on 122 while his fifth wicket partnership with Moores, who made 81, added 174 important runs.
The visitors bowlers had made early inroads into the Lancashire second innings to have the hosts on 76-4 and ahead by only 27 runs early in the afternoon before Singh and Moores combined to initially stem the fall of wickets, before steering their side into calmer waters across the second half of the day.
George Harris had made 24 of the first 36 runs before getting leading edge off Matthew Firbank that flew to Owen Smith at gully. George Bell and Rocky Flintoff were both bowled by sharply turning deliveries from spinner Jafer Chohan, who was brought on as early as the fourteenth over and accounted for Bell with his very first ball.
When Kesh Fonseka popped up a catch to Smith at short cover off Will Bennison the visitors were well on top.
Singh, who struck his fourth century for the Lancashire Second XI team, and Moores steadily took charge from that point in a brilliant partnership across 42 overs to bring Lancashire back into a game that had been slipping away.
Singh reached his half century from 97 balls just after tea with Moores taking 73 balls to reach his fifty with the century stand coming from 156 balls in 83 minutes.
Singh hit two sixes in going to his century off 154 balls, before adding a third maximum during the final hour with the 150-partnership arriving from 223 balls.
But Moores fine effort ended two overs before the close when he clipped Yash Vagadia to Smith at midwicket, leaving Tom Hartley at the crease on 4 not out, and Lancashire go into the final day with a lead of 206 runs.
The morning belonged to Lancashire’s bowlers who took the remaining six Yorkshire wickets for 107 runs as the visitors fell from their overnight 376-4 to 483 all out by lunch to lead by 49 runs on first innings.
Owen Smith was lbw for 13 playing across the line to Ollie Sutton while centurion Harry Duke feathered an edge to substitute ‘keeper Bell driving at a widish delivery from Tom Walker.
Jafer Chohan also edged behind for 1 off an excellent delivery from Charlie Parkinson that beat him off the pitch before a 51-run rally for the eighth wicket between Yash Vagadia and Matthew Firbank took Yorkshire into the lead.
Firbank (21) gave Bell his third catch of the morning off Tom Hartley who then had Vagadia caught at deep square leg for 37.
Subhaan Ali was last out for 11 after hoisting Charlie Barnard high to Hartley who took the catch in front of the sightscreen after running across from long-on.
TEAMS
Lancashire
George Harris, Kesh Fonseka, Harry Singh, Rocky Flintoff, Joe Moores, Tom Hartley (capt) Ollie Sutton, Charlie Barnard, Tom Walker, Charlie Parkinson, Haider Hussain, George Brown.
Substitute: George Bell for Haider Hussain at the start of day 3. Bell also took over the wicketkeeping duties from Joe Moores.
Yorkshire
Will Luxton (capt), Will Bennison, Jawad Akhtar, Harry Duke (wk), Noah Kelly, Owen Smith, Jafer Chohan, Yash Vagadia, Matthew Firbank, Subhaan Ali, Rizwan Ishfaq, George Lancaster.