Lancashire make 462 at Old Trafford

It's one of the unusual features of the Manchester microclimate that August is often wetter than February. Indeed, the rainfall records from the weather station at Manchester Airport show that more precipitation falls during the late summer compared with the late winter.


After the past few days at the Emirates Old Trafford, Glamorgan's cricketers have experienced this capricious feature of the area's weather pattern with just 8.4 overs being possible on Wednesday in the Royal London One-Day Cup match, besides a further 32 overs being lost on the opening day of the LV=County Championship match yesterday.


The meteorologists were also forecasting the likelihood of further disruption today as a large cell of low pressure moves across north-west England, and there was a thick bank of cloud over the ground at 11 a.m. as Lancashire resumed on 161-3 with David Lloyd and Graham Wagg undertaking the bowling duties. Karl Brown struck the day's first four as he pulled Wagg through mid-wicket in the all-rounder's opening over. The left-armer though nearly claimed the first wicket of the day as Steven Croft edged him just out of the reach of Jacques Rudolph diving to his right at second slip.


Croft celebrated his good fortune by cutting Lloyd through point for four before Andrew Salter had a trundle at the Pavilion End with Michael Hogan replacing Wagg at the Statham End. Brown duly reached his century as he clipped a full toss from Hogan through mid-wicket for his thirteenth boundary. Glamorgan then opted for an all-spin attack in the 82^nd over as Kieran Bull replaced Hogan before Croft lofted Salter over wide long-on, followed by a reverse-sweep to third man.


Brown also drilled Bull through extra-cover for four en route to a career-best 115 before Glamorgan took the new ball in the 87^th over with Craig Meschede and Graham Wagg returning to the attack. Croft duly completed his fifty from 102 balls as the pair also completed their century stand. Brown then flicked Wagg to fine-leg

Resuming on 260/3 after lunch, Steven Croft and Karl Brown looked to continue their productive partnership as Michael Hogan and David Lloyd undertook the bowling duties. On 124 Brown edged Lloyd to second slip where the chance was spilled, before glancing the bowler to fine-leg for four, before two balls later, squirting the delivery to third man.

But with the total on 274, Brown drove Lloyd to short mid-wicket where Chris Cooke swooped to take a good low catch with the roar of delight by the Glamorgan fielders being drowned out shortly afterwards from the other Old Trafford where Manchester United's defence successfully stifled an attack.


Alex Davies joined forces with Croft as Hogan departed with a groin strain as Craig Meschede and Graham Wagg bowled in tandem. Croft then edged Meschede just short of second slip but Davies deftly nurdled Wagg to third man before straight driving Meschede for four as Lancashire secured their third batting point in the 110^th over. Meschede then had Croft caught by wicket-keeper Mark Wallace, with 307/4 nearly becoming 308/5 as Davies edged the all-rounder through the slip cordon.


James Faulkner then glanced successive deliveries from Meschede to fine-leg for four before Davies cover drove Kieran Bull. Andrew Salter also returned at the Pavilion End and nearly had Davies caught at mid-off but the ball cleared Lloyd's outstretched arms, before the Lancastrian struck the spinner for a six to long-on to complete his fifty. He then lofted Bull to long-off for another four before lofting the youngster to long-on where Hogan could not quite hold onto the ball and in the process parried it over the ropes for six.

With Lancashire having reached 384/5 at tea, and Alex Davies unbeaten on 74, the home side were looking for some quick runs before declaring. David Lloyd duly resumed the bowling at the Pavilion End with Michael Hogan at the Statham End. After some scampered singles, Faulkner drilled Lloyd straight for three successive fours before smashing Hogan through mid-wicket to reach his fifty from 61 balls. He celebrated with another flat-batted drive through the covers before being dropped at deep backward-square.


Davies greeted the return of Meschede by guiding him through backward point for four but the on-loan bowler ended Faulkner's innings as after a massive pull to mid-wicket for six, he holed out to long-on where David Lloyd held a good low catch running in from the boundary rope as Lancashire lost their sixth wicket on 435.


Davies responded by pulling Colin Ingram over mid-wicket for four but on 95, he miscued the leg-spinner at point where Graham Wagg completed the catch. Arron Lilley slashed Meschede through point for four as Lancashire reached the 450-mark in the 138^th over, but three balls later Glen Chapple swatted the bowler to mid-on where Lloyd held another catch. Kyle Jarvis then used the long handle to deposit Meschede over wide mid-on for four before edging the next into Wallace's gloves. Ingram duly ended the innings as Wallace stumped Lilley with Lancashire finishing on 462 in the 141^st over.

There were sixteen overs remaining in the day's quota as Jacques Rudolph and Will Bragg began Glamorgan's response with Jarvis and Chapple sharing the new ball. Bragg sweetly off-drove Chapple in the veteran's opening over before Rudolph despatched Jarvis through the covers. Bragg then punched Chapple off the back foot through point before nonchalantly doing the same to Jarvis.


Kerrigan's spin was then briefly introduced in the 8^th over as Chapple switched to the Statham End. Lilley's off-spin was then introduced in the 12^th over and he struck with his second delivery as Bragg departed l.b.w. With his side on 40/1 Salter came in as night-watchman with Kerrigan switching to the Statham End and bowling in tandem with Lilley. Rudolph responded by cover-driving Kerrigan as together with Salter he saw Glamorgan through to the close of play.