Hat-trick hero Clark can’t save Red Rose
TEST CAPTAINS AMONG VICTIMS IN SPECIAL HAUL
LANCASHIRE’S Jordan Clark lit up an exhilarating first day of the Specsavers County Championship Roses clash with a remarkable morning hat-trick at Emirates Old Trafford, although Yorkshire ended it on top.
Seam bowling all-rounder Clark trapped current Test captains Joe Root (22) and Kane Williamson lbw before getting Jonny Bairstow caught at third slip to leave Yorkshire 59 for four just before lunch.
Between them, the trio have scored 14,639 Test runs and over 30,000 in first-class cricket.
Clark said: “I was happy to get my first wicket to be honest, so to get three in row I was over the moon. It sort of took the sting out of it with the way we’ve gone with the bat, but we’ve got a big opportunity tomorrow to turn it around.
“There’s been a few shout outs on Twitter of a few good hat-tricks. Any hat-trick to me would be a great one, but to get them three is very special. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this in a hurry. “It will live long in the memory.” Yorkshire were bowled out for 192 as 27-year-old Clark went on to claim a career best five for 58 from 12.1 overs and affect a run-out in his follow through.
Nineteen wickets fell in the day as Lancashire crumbled to 109 all out in reply, with Yorkshire leading by 83.
The White Rose won the toss with Graham Onions making the initial breakthrough with his second ball when he forced Brook to chop on as the score fell to 24 for one in the 14th over.
The White Rose were in decent order at 59 for one when 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 off, with Jos Buttler completing a smart low catch tumbling to his left at third slip. Both Williamson and Bairstow fell for golden ducks.
This was the first hat-trick in Roses Championship matches since Ken Higgs claimed one at Headingley in 1968 and the fourth in this fixture since the official constitution of the Championship in 1890.
Clark’s day got even better shortly after lunch when he got a hand on a fierce Lyth straight drive and ran out Tim Bresnan backing up at the nonstriker’s end to leave the visitors at 86 for six.
Yorkshire more than doubled their score from there, despite losing Steve Patterson and Lyth caught at first slip with successive deliveries to Bailey and Jimmy Anderson (one for 38 from 15) as the score fell to 131 for eight in the 42nd over.
After tea, Clark completed his maiden first-team five-for by getting Jack Brooks caught at cover and bowling Ben Coad.
Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone suffered a fractured thumb midway through the afternoon as he attempted to take a catch at second slip and did not bat.
Alex Davies hit a punchy half-century, but Yorkshire fought back.
Bresnan made the breakthrough when Root took a one-handed stunner at mid-wicket diving to his left following a meaty Keaton Jennings pull – 46 for one – before Patterson bowled Haseeb Hameed, who fell shouldering arms for the fourth innings running, and trapped Dane Vilas two balls later.
When Bresnan had Buttler caught behind down leg for three, Lancashire were 66 for four.
Four more wickets then fell without addition, including three in one Coad over, as the score fell to 92 for eight in the 27th.
Alex Davies was caught behind for 51 and Bailey bowled as both offered no stroke, Onions was bowled and Clark caught at deep square off Brooks, who bowled Anderson to wrap up the innings.