Red Rose bowlers finding their feet

LANCASHIRE’S inexperienced attack battled well to claim the upper hand on day two of their Bob Willis Trophy Roses clash at Headingley.

After two rain-hit days, the Red Rose have their rivals 178-6 in their first innings, with Adam Lyth’s 86no the only real resistance from the White Rose.

Day one saw 87 overs lost to rain, with a further 35 lost during day two, meaning the chances of either side winning this penultimate round North Group fixture are slim.

A draw would be far more damaging to Lancashire - third in the group and 22 points off top spot prior to this fixture. Yorkshire were second and only two points behind leaders Derbyshire.

Lyth, who survived a huge lbw appeal from Tom Bailey on nought, fed on some leg-side bowling from Red Rose debutant George Burrows, who he pulled for a six added to seven boundaries in his lunch-time 45.

He shared a half-century opening partnership with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18), only for Lancashire to hit back during the second half of the morning.

Of the Red Rose’s four front-line seamers, Bailey, 29, is the only one with significant experience. The others, Burrows, Danny Lamb and George Balderson, had only nine previous first-class appearances between them coming into the fixture.

But they all contributed to an impressive fightback. Burrows looked nervy, but bustling seamers Lamb and Balderson built significant pressure.

Bailey made the initial breakthrough when he had Kohler-Cadmore smartly caught low down at first slip by Keaton Jennings.

Lamb had Will Fraine caught behind for five and Tom Loten lbw for nought as the White Rose slipped to 61-3.

Burrows returned for his second spell at the Kirkstall Lane End and almost instantly claimed his first career wicket.

Harry Brook (six) cut a short and wide delivery to Josh Bohannon at point, leaving the hosts 78 for four.

Lyth reached his 50 shortly after the evening resumption as he and Johnny Tattersall put on 61.

But Jennings claimed the scalp of Tattersall for 25 with his medium pacers and Jordan Thompson was bowled by Burrows.

Lancashire head coach Jimmy Anderson said: “If I’m being harsh, it was a mixed day.

“There was some very good stuff in it, and we’re delighted to see that from such a young attack.

“George Balderson had an excellent day and has shown an improvement throughout the games he’s played so far. He’s very switched on.

“On the whole, we’re happy. But it remains to be seen how difficult the pitch is to bat on until both sides have had a go.

“There’s definitely plenty there for the bowlers.

“It went in fits and starts. They got a fast start, but we came back into it very well.”