County Championship: Ashwell Prince ton inspires Lancashire

Ashwell Prince has now passed 700 County Championship runs this season for Lancashire

Ashwell Prince and Alviro Petersen both made centuries as Lancashire moved within sight of a first-innings lead against Derbyshire at Southport.

Derbyshire, 335-9 overnight, added a further 35 runs before being bowled out for 370, Matt Critchley ending on 41.

After losing Paul Horton and Karl Brown cheaply, it looked as if it might prove an uphill battle for Lancashire.

But a 258-run partnership between Prince (156 no) and Petersen (113) helped them to finish day two on 348-4.

Having suffered a poor start, Lancashire were reduced to 18-2 off just seven overs following the loss of Horton and Brown, but they were rescued by the third-wicket stand between Prince and Petersen.

Petersen was finally removed by Tom Taylor (3-87) but Prince remained to improve on his third century of the summer as he guided Lancashire within 22 runs of the visitors' first-innings total.

Lancashire batsman Alviro Petersen:

"With them getting over 300 runs we were under pressure. Ashwell and I knew we had to get a few partnerships together.

"We have played a lot of cricket together and we understand each other. It all came together and, more importantly, it puts the team in a good position.

"Ashwell is playing good cricket. It is his last season and sometimes that means there is no pressure on you and you can just go out and express yourself."

Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman:

"We did well to take a couple of wickets with the new ball and then I think we saw two fine hundreds from two outstanding international players.

"They put the bat ball away and the way they rotated the strike on a pitch which is starting to turn a little more was high quality.

"We did our best to break their rhythm by changing ends, changing bowlers, changing the pace, but they both batted excellently."