Lancashire 137 (Sanderson 4-39) and 24 for 2 need 422 to overhaul Northamptonshire’s 284 and 298 for 4 declared (Vasconcelos 100, Zain 55 not out)
Northamptonshire’s promotion ambition was plainly evident after they completely dominated the third day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.After dismissing Lancashire for 137 in a dramatic opening session, the visitors declared 298 for 4 in 64 overs, with Ricardo Vasconcelos making 100, his fourth century of the season, and Saif Zaib remaining 55 not out.Needing 446 to win, the hosts ended the day at 24 for 2 after losing both Keaton Jennings and Marcus Harris in the final overs.
The morning session was entirely dominated by Northamptonshire’s bowlers, who took eight wickets for 57 runs in under 90 minutes. Jennings fell first, edging a ball from Liam Guthrie to substitute Louis Kimber at third slip for 37.
Arav Shetty fell to a leg-before decision off Ben Sanderson, the first of five wickets to tumble for 11 runs. Joe Moores was bowled by legspinner Yuzi Chahal for 1, Rocky Flintoff was lbw to Sanderson for 13, and debutant Ben Walkden edged his first Championship ball to Kimber at slip.When Noman Ali fell leg-before to Guthrie for a single and Tom Bailey was caught at slip second ball for 4, Lancashire seemed in danger of failing to reach the follow-on target of 135. Mitch Stanley averted that indignity with a six before being leg-before to Chahal for 15. Sanderson finished with 4 for 39 and Guthrie 3 for 51. The absence of James Sales, who injured himself in the warm-ups, went barely noticed.
After lunch, Northamptonshire openers Vasconcelos and Luke Procter added 121 for the first wicket, deepening the home side’s misery. Procter was dropped on 39 by Harris at first slip off Shetty, before falling leg-before to Tom Bailey for 46 off the tea break. Vasconcelos reached his fourth century of the season off 126 balls, guided through mid-off off Shetty. He has been a standout performer in what is becoming a memorable season for a county yet to win the Championship.
As Northamptonshire progressed towards declaration, Lancashire’s bowlers struck in the evening session. Calvin Harrison was caught at midwicket by Shetty off Noman for 29, and the same bowler dismissed Vasconcelos five balls after his century, caught at midwicket by Josh Bohannon for exactly 100. Nathan McSweeney was bowled for 29 attempting a wild swipe at Walkden, but the declaration did not follow until over seven hours later.
With 11 overs remaining before close, Lancashire lost Jennings for nought when he edged Sanderson to Zaib at fourth slip, the keeper parrying the sharp chance before Kimber took the catch. Five overs later, Harris fell lbw to Chahal for 10, bringing a miserable day to a close for the home side.
