Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Emirates Old Trafford (day two)
Worcestershire 172 & 149-9: Fell 40; Gleeson 4-35
Lancashire 201: Livingstone 69; Parnell 5-47
Worcestershire (3 pts) lead Lancashire (4 pts) by 120 runs
Lancashire are closing in on victory over Worcestershire in their Specsavers County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.
The second day ebbed and flowed as both sides “won” passages of play throughout.
Dane Vilas strode out to the middle alongside Liam Livingstone this morning following the wicket of James Anderson late last night.
Having resumed on 88-5, the sixth wicket pair added 98 in 20 overs during the morning session before Vilas (39) shouldered arms to a Wayne Parnell delivery to give the South African his fourth wicket of the innings.
Meanwhile, at the other end Livingstone looked in great touch, notching his first first-class half-century since September 2017. He found the boundary 14 times during his innings – five of which came off a single Ed Barnard over.
To make things worse, Barnard then dropped Livingstone off the last ball of the over. That being said, it was a touch chance below the knee.
He then gifted Parnell his fifth wicket of the innings as he was bowled for 69. This was third wicket to fall during a period where the hosts lost four for 14 inside six overs to leave Lancashire all out for 201 with a first innings lead of 29.
Anderson opened the bowling for Lancashire after lunch and picked up where he left off yesterday. The 36-year-old claimed his sixth wicket of the match, having Daryl Mitchell caught by Rob Jones at gully.
George Rhodes and Tom Fell then grafted hard on an afternoon where that ball was moving both through the air and off the pitch.
They combined to add 42 before Rhodes lost his middle stump courtesy of Tom Bailey.
This sparked a wobble as the next two wickets fell for eight runs inside four overs before Fell and Ross Whiteley made it to tea with the score reading 76-4.
The pair added one more run before Fell was trapped LBW on 40 in the second over after the interval.
Whitely followed six balls later, falling to Anderson for five.
The Pears were in further difficulty as they found themselves on 99-7 with a lead of 70.
However, first innings hero Parnell joined Barnard and they attempted to battle through until stumps, but Livingstone picked up Barnard for 18 with 32 balls remaining in the day. Barnard played on trying to cut the spinner square of the wicket.
Worcestershire captain Joe Leach will resume in the morning with a new partner after Parnell edged Gleeson behind for 25 to leave his side on 149-9 with a 120 run lead.
WHAT THEY SAID
Richard Gleeson is in fine form having taken career-best match figures in the game against Northamptonshire last week.
Four wickets today proved that he has what it takes to be a threat in the division this year.
“We’re in a good position and there’s competition with Saqib [Mahmood] waiting in the wings”
He also said that it was great to be able to work alongside James Anderson and Graham Onions.
“They are two of the best to learn off. It’s good to have them talking to you, telling you what the ball’s doing and what their plans would be. It’s good to pick their brains.” he added.
Picture credit: Lancashire Cricket
Recent Comments