Notts fire back against Lancashire

 

Nottinghamshire assumed control of their LV= County Championship season-opener against Lancashire on a rain-affect second day at Trent Bridge.

 

Lancashire were in danger of failing to avoid the follow on after they were reduced to 77 for six in their first match back in the top-flight.

 

The newly-promoted visitors will resume on Tuesday still needing 46 runs to rule out the possibility of being asked to bat again, in a match where the rain looks like it will reduce the number of overs available.

 

Lancashire's troubles with bat in hand made Samit Patel's 93 on the opening day appear even more impressive, in a Notts first-innings total of 272.

 

The hosts were only able to add two more runs to their overnight score - following a three-hour rain delay - as Lancashire took four balls to remove last-man Harry Gurney.

 

Kabir Ali snuck one through his defences to finish with 3-66.

 

Lancashire's reply faltered almost immediately as they lost both openers to be four for two.

 

 

Stand-in skipper Paul Horton missed a flick through leg to be lbw to Luke Fletcher after

failing to score from 22 balls.

 

In the next over Luis Reece got a fine edge to wicketkeeper Chris Read off Gurney.

 

The Notts bowlers were enjoying the seaming conditions and while Andrea Agathangelou held them up briefly, his decision to leave an Andy Carter off-cutter resulted in his off stump being pinned back.

 

Debutant Jake Ball then claimed his first Championship wickets in returning figures of two for 25.

 

The 23-year-old was able to count former South Africa Test batsmen Ashwell Prince as a prized first scalp in his very first over.

 

Prince felt for a ball that left him just enough for Read to take a simple catch.

 

Ball the grabbed his second wicket after an otherwise forgettable over.

 

The right-armer sprayed five wides down leg side before Luke Procter cut him to the point rope.

 

But from the next delivery Ball found Procter's front pad in defence and the umpire's finger was raised.

 

Lancashire were now fearing the follow-on mark of 123, and a loose drive from Alex Davies was not what was ordered when medium pacer Steven Mullaney was brought on.

 

Davies flayed his bat straight down the wicket to Mullaney's third ball only for his off stump to be uprooted.

 

The rain returned shortly after to send the players off for a slightly early tea and the weather set in to end the day's play.

 

Notts director of cricket Mike Newell was content with his side's work, but warned there was still plenty of time left in the match for Lancashire to fight back.

 

"We bowled nicely," he said.

 

"There was some good tight bowling that made it difficult for Lancashire to score.

 

"If Lancashire get near to our score they'll feel very much in the game.

 

"There is a lot of overs still to play. There's 200 still to play and we've only played 100. There's an awful lot still to happen."​