Davies makes his old pals pay dear
LANCASHIRE were put to the sword by their former opener Alex Davies who scored a century for his new side Warwickshire to set up a fascinating final day of their LV=Insurance County Championship tussle at Edgbaston.
Davies, who left the Red Rose at the end of last season, defied his old team mates to make 121 and tilt a fluctuating game narrowly his side’s way.
His skilful work lifted Warwickshire to 327-9 declared, setting a victory target of 329. Lancashire reached five without loss in four overs before close.
After the Red Rose’s first innings ended on 286, six runs behind, their seamers bowled superbly to reduce the home side to 195-7, until Davies and Henry Brookes (55) counter-attacked to add 84 in 14 overs.
Heading into the final day, all four results remain possible.
Lancashire’s seamers showed their quality. Tom Bailey hit the top of Dom Sibley’s off stump and George Balderson bowled Rob Yates with a beauty. Warwickshire advanced to 83 for two but were then rocked by a post-lunch blitz of three for four in 14 balls by Will Williams (4-70).
The Kiwi’s third ball of the afternoon was a ferocious in-ducker which trapped Sam Hain lbw and his fifth darted back to bowl Will Rhodes, offering no shot. When Matt Lamb was bowled through a big drive, Warwickshire were 95-5.
Davies and Michael Burgess (46) started the recovery with a stand of 70 in 22 overs before the latter edged a perfectly-shaped outswinger from Bailey. When Danny Briggs chipped Williams to mid-wicket, it was advantage Lancashire.
But Davies remained resolute and enjoyed aggressive support from Brookes who breezed to a 65-ball half-century. Both fell on the offensive in the closing overs.