CLARK TAKES THE GREATEST EVER HAT-TRICK

Clark’s magical deliveries sees him take Root, Williamson and Bairstow

THEY were three deliveries which will live forever in the memory of Jordan Clark.

The Lancashire seamer trapped Joe Root (below, left) lbw, Kane Williamson (below, middle) was then dismissed in the same manner before Jonny Bairstow (far right) edged to third slip.

That’s the England captain, the New Zealand skipper and one of England’s finest batsman in successive deliveries. And to top it all, it was in a Roses clash.

The trio had scored 14,639 Test runs and over 30,000 in firstclass cricket and it was the first time in a first-class match a hattrick removed three batsman who had all scored more than 3,000 Test runs.

Clark finished with a career best 5-58 from 12.1 overs and affected a runout in his follow-through. as the Tykes were all out for 192.

Lancashire were 46-0 and then 92-4 in reply, but Ben Coad (3-28) took three wickets in an over as they collapsed to 109 all out at stumps, 83 runs behind. Rain delayed the start until 11.45am, and the White Rose won the toss.

Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 70, but Clark struck at the end of the 19th over.

He had Root pushing forwards to a full ball, Williamson stuck on the crease and Bairstow driving loosely outside offstump, with Jos Buttler completing a smart low catch at third slip.

Williamson and Bairstow fell for golden ducks.