Lancashire fail with glory as Rob Jones’ pursuit of 430 falls heroically quick
Essex 282 (Westley 135, Walter 76; Bailey 6-59) and 292 for 8 dec (Lawrence 135, Bracewell 61*; Bailey 3-71) beat Lancashire 145 (S Cook 4-42, Walter 3-20) and 383 (Jones 111, Wells 75, Bohannon 68; Bracewell 3-50, Critchley 3-70) by 46 runs
Lancashire’s cricketers arrived at Stanley Park this morning figuring out that if they may bat out the day in opposition to Essex, they would definitely earn their workforce 5 factors. Even on this period of extraordinary feats, chasing down 430 for victory on a fourth-day Blackpool pitch was certainly an absurdity. So we thought anyway…
But Keaton Jennings and his gamers additionally understood that even when they merely scraped a manky draw, it might go a way in direction of expiating the damage to their skilled reputations suffered by their hogwhimperingly incompetent efficiency on the third day. So it was a kind of occasions on which county cricketers study one thing about themselves that goes past method and character. Colleagues and coaches can assist however they can’t face the bowling in both the precise or metaphorical sense.
Something like ten hours later, Jennings’ gamers had certainly found a lot about themselves, even in defeat to a superb Essex workforce, whose diversified assault had conjured a 46-run victory with simply ten balls to spare. And somewhat than block like buggery for 96 overs, Lancashire’s batsmen had performed positively, roughly each one in all them, to offer their aspect an opportunity of reaching the very best profitable fourth-innings run-chase of their historical past. As issues turned out, it wasn’t fairly sufficient however those that witnessed it, no matter their loyalties, won’t neglect it.
For within the penultimate over of the day, with Tom Westley’s gamers maybe doubting that victory can be theirs, Rob Jones glanced Doug Bracewell into the secure palms of Dan Lawrence at leg-slip. Almost on the moment, Lawrence was mobbed by colleagues celebrating their fourth victory of the Championship season; on the identical second Jones stood immobile within the crease, the very fact of his excellent 111 instantly misplaced amid the desolation of defeat. Of course he obtained a standing ovation as he returned to the pavilion, however so did Essex’s gamers on the finish of a protracted drama, whose stress had appeared unbelievable within the excessive when the rain was cascading down on Monday and Tuesday.
But in fact this match was one thing of a triumph for nearly all of the gamers, not least Jennings and Luke Wells whose 58-run stand within the first hour of the day was the very best opening partnership of the competition. However, because the earlier three had all been nought, this achievement didn’t immediate Glen Chapple to steer a conga on the house balcony. What might need happy Lancashire’s head coach somewhat extra was the sight of his openers negotiating the primary hour’s play with few alarms save Wells being dropped on two when Simon Harmer grassed a troublesome one-handed probability at second slip off Sam Cook. Shortly after noon, nevertheless, Jennings was not as lucky on 30 when he tried to chop Bracewell however solely nicked the ball excessive to Will Buttleman’s left and noticed the keeper take an impressive one-handed catch.
Essex loved no different breakthroughs within the morning session. On the opposite, Wells reached his fifty off 83 balls and Josh Bohannon took the combat to Harmer, twice lofting the off-spinner for leg-side sixes. Lancashire got here in to lunch prosperously positioned on 140 for one after 32 overs, the kind of rating that led some well-watered souls within the pavilion to take a position concerning the possibilities of their aspect successful the match. Apparently they had been getting notably animated within the touring model of the 1864 Suite, though which may have been linked to the arrival of three instances of Château Lafaurie Peyraguey.
Such pleasure was not lessened when Bohannon whacked Harmer for an additional six over long-on within the second over after lunch but it surely was stilled a couple of moments later when Lancashire misplaced two wickets within the area of 5 balls. First Wells, having ridden a little bit luck and been dropped twice was safely taken at backward level by Paul Walter off Matt Critchley. Then Dane Vilas, who is unfortunately out of nick, might make nothing off Critchley’s googly and was bowled for a five-ball duck.
The environment of the sport modified virtually without delay because the Essex fielders inspired their bowlers with contemporary optimism and loud encouragement. Justifiably so, as nicely, for having reached a formidable fifty off 65 balls, Bohannon once more fell to a backward of sq. leg-side catch off left-arm seamer Paul Walter when a sweetly timed pull off his hip went straight to Jamie Porter at lengthy leg.
Phil Salt joined Jones and though Lancashire reached the midpoint of the day precisely midway in direction of their goal, they did so with their final two specialist batsmen collectively. And no-one was speaking about knocking off 430 now. Yet as paralleled in so many cricket matches, Essex’s greatest probability of successful the sport lay in the truth that Lancashire might additionally achieve this. While Jones and Salt had been tantalised by the potential for unbelievable victory, Westley’s gamers knew their very own possibilities had been elevated so long as their opponents nonetheless had a sniff.
The recreation swung in Essex’s favour, maybe vitally so, shortly after tea. First, Salt, having made 41, top-edged a sweep off Critchley to Porter behind sq. on the leg aspect. Three overs later, Colin de Grandhomme hooked Paul Walter straight to Jamie Porter at lengthy leg and it turned plain that Lancashire had been operating out of batters able to scoring the runs they wanted for victory.
Still, nevertheless, with 89 wanted off the final 16 overs and the brand new ball about to be taken, they gave it a go. Tom Hartley made 17 earlier than he nicked Cook to Buttleman. Next over Jack Blatherwick gave Porter a return catch and with seven overs left within the contest Tom Bailey skied Bracewell to backward level, the place Harmer took an outstanding diving catch. Finally, and maybe only a trifle too late, Lancashire settled for the draw and the gang subsided right into a tense silence. Will Williams defied Harmer with some entrance foot lunges and the draw beckoned. Then, Bracewell gathered his substantial kind and galloped in to bowl to Jones….
Paul Edwards is a contract cricket author. He has written for the Times, ESPNcricinfo, Wisden, Southport Visiter and different publications