Glo’sters take just two wickets as Bohannon dominates

LANCASHIRE’S Josh Bohannon scored his fourth first-class century as the Red Rose totally dominated against Gloucestershire on day two at Old Trafford, writes Jamie Bowman.

The hosts closed on 289 for three on a day when just two wickets fell in stark contrast to the 12 dismissals on day one of this Championship Division One clash, with Lancashire now holding 37-run lead.

England hopeful Bohannon was unbeaten on 142 alongside skipper Dane Vilas, who made 39, as the pair put on 55 unbeaten runs for the fourth wicket after opener Luke

Wells had earlier made a wellconstructed 59.

For Bolton-born Bohannon, the innings was the latest on a CV which is surely making the England selectors take notice following the 25-year-old’s breakthrough season in 2021 when he was named Player of the Year at Lancashire after topping their run scoring charts in red ball cricket.

Lancashire added 92 without loss to their 11 for one overnight score by lunch, so Gloucestershire had to tighten things up when play resumed – and they did so thanks to the accurate bowling of Ryan Higgins and the left-arm spin of Zafar Gohar.

Wells was the first to fall to the increased purpose from the visitors’ attack when he was trapped in front playing back to a sharply-turning delivery from Zafar for 59 to end a second-wicket partnership of 106.

Nevertheless, Bohannon reached his century with a leg glance to the boundary off his 213th ball and Lancashire will look forward to a similar return to last season’s efforts.

Bohannan and Steven Croft batted beyond tea and had amassed a partnership of 117 when Croft brought out his sweep once too often on 34 and Zafar – the pick of the Gloucestershire attack with two for 65 – was rewarded as the stumps were broken by a fine delivery.

Another of Lancashire’s recent century makers, Vilas, then entered proceedings and together with Bohannon saw things through to the end, reaching a fine unbeaten 50 partnership without alarm just before the close of play. The visitors, therefore, have work to do.

Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 252 (M S Harris 67, C D J Dent 52, R F Higgins 51 no; Hasan Ali 6-47), Lancashire 289-3 (J J Bohannon 142 no, L W P Wells 59).