Clark’s century hauls Lancashire back from the brink
Jordan Clark scored his maiden first-class hundred to lead a magnificent Lancashire recovery against Surrey.
Lancashire looked in severe trouble at 67 for five but all-rounder Clark teamed up with Shivnarine Chanderpaul to turn things around and guide the visitors to 294 for six at stumps.
The duo’s stand is already worth 172 runs and, while Chanderpaul did much to stop Surrey’s charge with a typically determined 85 not out, Clark stole the limelight.
The 26-year-old finished the day unbeaten on 108 off 133 balls having struck 17 fours and three sixes, one of which brought up his hundred when he hooked Mark Footitt beyond the ropes in an over that brought the batsman 18 runs.
In that over, the 76th of the day, Clark stormed past his previous career-best of 84 not out in a stream of boundaries, including fours from a slash to third man, a gloved hook high over the wicketkeeper’s head and a magnificent extra cover drive, then finally a perfectly executed hook for six.
Footitt’s nine-over morning burst of three for 29 had earlier undermined Lancashire after they had chosen to bat.
He dismissed Alan Davies, new Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone and Dane Vilas before lunch from the Pavilion End.
The Curran brothers, Sam and Tom, weighed in with the wickets of England opener Haseeb Hameed – who fell for a second-ball duck – and Luke Procter respectively. he did not give up his part-time work in a sports shop in Coatbridge, his Lanarkshire hometown. Such loyalty and humility only further endeared him to fans.
“When I started out, you think about winning belts and being in massive fights, but I never set myself any targets,” he explained. “I just worked hard and when I got the chances, I took them.”
In Indongo, also 34, Burns faces an unbeaten, rangy southpaw from Namibia, who works full time as a police officer in Windhoek and claimed his world champion status in spectacular fashion in December when he travelled to Russia.
In his first fight outside his homeland, he delivered a one-punch knockout – a left hook in the opening round – to claim a shock victory over the champion Eduard Troyanovsky. The achievement earnt Indongo the International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organisation crowns.
“I warn you – do not underestimate us, because that’s what happened in Moscow,” said Indongo. “I’ve heard what they’ve been saying. They said it was a lucky punch that floored Troyanovsky. It’s easy to talk. Bring Burns in front of me and we will see who is the best.“
Victory for Burns could lead to a rematch with American Terence Crawford, the holder of the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organisation belts. The unbeaten Crawford defeated Burns in 2014.