CRICKET: Lancs v Notts evenly poised as wickets were aplenty on day two at Emirates Old Trafford

Specsavers County Championship Division One, Emirates Old Trafford (day two)

Lancashire 158 all out :Vilas 49; Ball 5-43

Notts: 127-6: Patel 28; Bailey 3-17

Sixteen wickets fell on day two at Emirates Old Trafford, on a day where the ball proved problematic for the batsmen.

Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney decided not to contest the coin toss this morning, meaning that he was happy enough to field first under grey skies at Emirates Old Trafford.

His decision was justified as his bowling attack were able to keep things tight in the early overs. In fact, it took a staggering 39 balls and 27 minutes for the first run to come off the bat.

Haseeb Hameed looked somewhat nervous early doors as the ball flew past his outside edge on several occasions. He survived a first ball LBW appeal before getting out in the same fashion to Jake ball for seven in the 11^th over of the day.

Four overs later, fellow opener Keaton Jennings played a ball back to Harry Gurney to gift the Nottinghamshire bowler a caught and bowled chance. He departed for 11 off 46 balls to leave his side 28-2.

Wicketkeeper Alex Davies and captain Liam Livingstone added 31 as they looked to steady the ship after a rocky start.

Skipper Livingstone was adjudged LBW for nine off the bowling of Luke Wood. This left the home side in a tricky position at 59-3. Livingstone managed to find the boundary once during his 21-ball stay at the crease.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts as Davies (23) was trapped in front 12 balls later, leaving them on 60-4. He struck four fours in his knock.

South African Dane Vilas was most likely to be Lancashire’s knight in shining armour as he, alongside West Indian veteran Shiv Chanderpaul looked to spark some sort of revival. They added 64 for the fifth wicket before Chanderpaul was caught by Jake Libby for 11 off 53 deliveries. The hosts were on the rocks again at 124-5.

This sparked a catastrophic collapse as Lancashire lost 5-34 in the afternoon session as they found themselves 158 all out.

Vilas top scored with 49 before playing all around a straight ball from Harry Gurney. He played some glorious strokes, striking six boundaries.

Jake Ball was the pick of the Nottinghamshire bowlers as he claimed figures of 5-43 off 17 overs.

After tea, it was time for Tom Bailey and debutant Graham Onions to make inroads in the Nottinghamshire batting line-up.

Onions soon picked up his first Championship wicket for his new county as Libby nicked behind for 15 to leave the visitors 20-1.

Mullaney and Chris Nash looked comfortable, adding 42 for the second wicket. But Tom Bailey had other ideas as he had Mullaney caught behind for 24.

Nash soon followed for the same score as Nottinghamshire found themselves in a slight rut at 75-3.

Their overseas player, Ross Taylor, was the next man to fall seven runs later – leaving the game evenly poised.

Samit Patel looked to be positive and keep the scoreboard ticking over. He scored a relatively quick 28 before playing on to Australian Joe Mennie to give the New South Wales man his first Lancashire wicket.

At 110-5, and with just over three overs left in the day, Steven Mullaney sent in night-watchman Luke Fletcher. This was a decision that he was left to rue as he fell four balls later for a couple.

Both Riki Wessels and Tom Moores saw their side through to the close – the score reading 127-6.