MATCH REPORT: Northamptonshire hammer home advantage on day three
Today’s report brought to you by C&C Insurance
Northamptonshire dominated day three at Emirates Old Trafford to set Lancashire a record target of 446 to win this Rothesay County Championship match.
Ben Sanderson led a fine bowling effort that saw Lancashire, resuming their first innings on 68-2, bowled out for in the morning session for 137 to concede a lead of 147 runs.
A terrific century from Ricardo Vasconcelos then helped the visitors consolidate their position, declaring on 298-4 before Lancashire suffered the loss of Keaton Jennings and Marcus Harris to end the day on 24-2 in their second innings.
Lancashire’s miserable morning started 25 minutes into
Lancashire’s miserable morning started 25 minutes into the day with the dismissal of Jennings, caught at third slip for 19 off Liam Guthrie, and concluded 90 minutes later when Mitch Stanley was last man out for 13 to Yuzi Chahal. In-between the Northamptonshire bowlers feasted on wickets, as eight fell for 57 runs in 20.1 overs.
Sanderson added two lbws to the one he gained the previous evening, although both Arav Shetty, who played some lovely back foot drives in his 37, and Rocky Flintoff (15) were not helped by deliveries that kept a touch low.
Ben Walkden had the unfortunate experience of getting out to his first ball in first-class cricket, edging a good Sanderson delivery to third slip, the bowler finishing with 4-39 while left armer Guthrie added Noman Ali, lbw for 1, and Tom Bailey
Leg spinner Chahal, who earlier bowled Joe Moores
Leg spinner Chahal, who earlier bowled Joe Moores for 1, was slogged for six by Stanley before wrapping up the Red Rose innings from the next ball for 137 to leave Lancashire trailing well behind by 147 runs.
That substantial lead was quickly enhanced by a century opening partnership in 23 overs between Ricardo Vasconcelos and Luke Procter.
Procter played mainly a supporting role while watching Vasconcelos score all around the wicket, reaching his fifty from 48 balls that included a six deposited way back in the stand at midwicket.
Northamptonshire skipper Procter fell lbw to Bailey
Northamptonshire skipper Procter fell lbw to Bailey for 46 on the stroke of tea with the score 121, but Vasconcelos motored on after the interval to reach his fourth century this season off 126 balls before offering a catch off Noman to Bohannon at midwicket without adding to his score.
Calvin Harrison got off the mark with two sixes in making a quickfire 29, while Nathan McSweeney also chipped in with 29, before Saif Zaib (55 not out) and George Bartlett (32 not out) heaped on more misery with an unbroken partnership of 63 before the declaration arrived at 6.10pm.
That left Lancashire facing 11 overs to bat, but they made a terrible start losing Jennings for a duck, caught by Louis Kimber at third slip after fourth slip parried the ball, and Marcus Harris lbw to Chahal for 10.
Bohannon (1 not out) and nightwatch Bailey (9
Bohannon (1 not out) and nightwatch Bailey (9 not out) survived the remaining 22 balls to reach stumps.
“We’ve been out-skilled today again with bat and ball, are behind in this game as well, and tomorrow we’ve got to come back and show what we’re about,” said Head Coach Steven Croft.
“We have to fight back and throw some punches of our own, because today we were second best again.
I think we did okay in the first
“I think we did okay in the first innings with the ball, but I think if we were honest, we probably wanted a total of 200-220.
“And similar with the bat, there’s rewards out there if you bowled well – and I thought they bowled well – but we no doubt should have done better with the bat.
“Then going into the second innings, it may be quite an even contest, but we were a little bit short with both skill sets so they go into their second innings with a sizable lead on that surface.
They made it hard, we didn’t make early
“They made it hard, we didn’t make early inroads, so then we are chasing our tail for the rest of the game.
“I felt that they came back, but again, we weren’t at our best. They’re entitled to have a fight back, but ultimately if we look at ourselves first, I don’t think we completely hit our straps in that first innings with the ball, and certainly with the bat as well.
“I think if we’re completely honest, if we’re not getting either right, sometimes the batting might get us out of trouble, and vice versa. We’re a team out there, and we’ve been a little bit short in both departments, really.
I think we’ve seen as that new ball
“I think we’ve seen as that new ball wears off, it becomes quite a nice surface to bat on. We will take whatever we can out of this game. Hopefully, it’s a great draw.
“I think being realistic, we first and foremost try and get as many points out of this game.
“If they do knock us over, it needs to be from a place where they’ve had a hard day’s work to try and get us out, but we’re thinking about hopefully batting all day, and where that will lead us.”
Skipper James Anderson has missed this game with injury and Croft added:
“He’s doing everything he can to play a part in this back end.
“I’m sure we’ll see him feature at some point. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. He’s doing everything he can to try and get on the start line.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Luke Adams & Dan Adams
Source: cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk
