A nervy day for both sides sees two controversial decisions against Somerset in a match that could decide who is relegated from the division and who wins it.
Lancashire 140 and 298-7 (Wells 78*, Gregory 2-44) lead Somerset 146 (Lammonby 36, Bailey 4-36) by 292 runs
Compared to what was one of the most intense days of cricket this season yesterday, day two displayed a more civil aspect to the four day format.
It was only the umpires who made this day not just any normal day of cricket with penalty runs given to Lancashire and a missed stumping.
The home side plodded along at a run rate just under 3 for the majority of the day, as the Somerset bowlers kept economic figures and worked their way through the Lancashire lineup.
Lancashire began the day 10-1 after Somerset claimed the all important wicket of Jennings during the evening session last night. Nightwatchman Will Williams departed promptly leaving Josh Bohannon and debutant Harry Singh to bat the morning session.
Bohannon made a half century before toe-ending one to gully off a shorter ball from Aldridge, only his fourth score of the like in his previous 22 innings.
“The fight that we’ve shown today as a batting group is one that we as a group of Lancashire cricketers is what we’re about” said Bohannon, “The bowlers got us back into this game so it was up to the batters now to get us into a position to win this game.”
“We’ve had a good day today but tomorrow we’ve got to come again with the same mindset and get as many as we can in this third innings and give us as many as we can to bowl at.”
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Singh played a very conservative innings, exhibiting a classic style of batting scoring just 31 in an innings lasting 3 hours and 38 minutes. He fell to a nick behind that was caught by James Rew who was standing up to the stumps for the bowling of Brett Randell.
A partnership was forged between the two academy players Hurst and Flintoff who put on 31 together. Hurst went after a delivery wide of the off stump from Randell that he edged to slip.
In a clear demonstration of experience versus youth, despite looking well set, Flintoff was knocked over courtesy of a great ball from spinner Jack Leach.
The first controversy of the match came when the umpires met together and administered a five run penalty to Somerset for what seemed to be a manipulation of the field.
Kasey Aldridge begins to slide towards the ball to pick up a shot trickled down to fine leg by Luke Wells, which is then intercepted by Archie Vaughan. This was considered a punishable offence as the fielder was deemed to be faking a throw at the stumps and Lancs had five runs added to their score.
Meanwhile, George Bell and Luke Wells were putting on a partnership together of 83 before Bell got one that kept low from a short to good length and took out his off stump.
Balderson came out to bat next alongside Wells who was batting finely, making his half century off 98 balls after a few aesthetically pleasing successive fours.
More confusion ensued when George Balderson missed a Jack Leach delivery outright, clipping his pad sending the Somerset players into a chorus of appeals.
The ball ends up in Overton’s hand which he appeals with then realised the batter was out of his crease, throwing the stumps down with Balderson a mile out. But it wasn’t given.
The rest of the session was completed with the two Lancashire batsmen protecting their wickets and ensuring they’ll be in tomorrow. Wells ended up only 22 runs shy of a century with Balderson on a valiant 5 off 53 balls accompanying him back to the Lancashire balcony.
Lancashire take a lead of 292 into tomorrow morning – with cloudy conditions expected, we could see some movement with the new ball that may help both sides bowlers.
A rare full day’s rest for Lancashire’s seamers will only help their cause at taking all ten wickets tomorrow, we have a game on our hands.
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