Homegrown pair give Red Rose hope after record batting stand
LANCASHIRE have had their critics this season for bolstering their squad with Kolpak players.
But it was two of their young homegrown stars who produced a stunning batting display on day three of their Specsavers County Championship match with Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford to put them in with a chance of picking up their first win of the campaign.
Alex Davies and Liam Livingstone, who have both come through the age groups at Lancashire, put on a record third-wicket stand for a Red Rose pairing against Somerset at the ground of 245 to turn the game on its head.
Davies, 21, notched his second century in three innings as he made 130, while 23-year-old Livingstone again strengthened his hopes of an England call-up with a career-best 168.
They helped Lancashire bat for the whole day, and they will resume this morning on 423-7 in their second innings, a lead of 254.
It’s a remarkable turnaround, with the side having been 42-6 and bowled out for 109 on day one, and having trailed by 169 at the end of the first innings.
And whether or not they can force a win, Livingstone – who is captaining in the absence of the injured Steven Croft – says days like this are why he is excited by this side.
“I am loving captaining this side, it is a very exciting side to be part of,” he said.
“But the most exciting thing is that although we are playing very good cricket, there is still a lot for us to improve on.
“We aren’t playing as well as we can just yet, but you look at the first two games, and the way we have fought back in this one, it is fairly exciting for us.”
For Davies, it is a sweet start to a campaign that many feared he may not see after battling through two significant knee surgeries in the past 18 months. But having made his maiden first-class century at Essex in the first match of the campaign, he now has his first at Emirates Old Trafford and is relishing his new role as opener.
“It was a tricky period (the injury), but if anything it makes you even more hungry.
“Scoring my first century here it a really special moment, and it was great doing it with Liam. We have known each other since we were 11 and the more homegrown talent we can get performing here, the better it is for the club.”
After 18 wickets fell on day one, just 11 have gone in the last two days, showing how hard it will be for Lancashire to push for a win.
But the fact Lancashire lost four wickets for just 25 runs after Davies was dismissed before Ryan McLaren (34no) and Stephen Parry (22no) steadied the ship gives Lancashire hope.
“I wouldn’t say we are in a position of strength yet, it is still a fairly decent pitch,” said Livingstone.
“But it is definitely getting worse, hopefully that will accelerate tomorrow.”