Bob Willis Trophy: Lancashire build huge second-innings lead against Derbyshire

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Keaton JenningsImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Keaton Jennings has played 17 Test matches for England

Bob Willis Trophy, Aigburth (day three):

Lancashire 219 & 312-6: Davies 86, Jennings 81, Balderson 56*; Critchley 4-126

Derbyshire 195: Hosein 84; Lamb 4-60

Lancashire (4 pts) lead Derbyshire (3 pts) by 336 runs

An opening stand of 138 between Alex Davies and Keaton Jennings allowed Lancashire to take control of their Bob Willis Trophy group game as Derbyshire's hopes of reaching the final subsided.

The Red Rose openers dominated the afternoon at Aigburth, reaching their century partnership when Jennings lofted a six over Matt Critchley's head.

Davies was the main aggressor, hitting four boundaries off one Dustin Melton over, before driving straight to Anuj Dal off Critchley for 86.

Jennings eased his way to his own half-century off 102 balls and he and Josh Bohannon had taken Lancashire beyond 200 when the England opener toe-ended a reverse sweep straight to Billy Godleman at midwicket for 81.

But the real drama of the day occurred in the morning session as Derbyshire staged a dramatic recovery in their quest to make 200 and gain a batting bonus point on their way to registering the win which would take them to Lord's.

At 17-4 and 61-7 it looked an unlikely prospect, until a brilliant eighth-wicket stand of 102 between Harvey Hosein and Mattie McKiernen took the visitors to 163 and within sight of their improbable target.

It was not to be. McKiernen fell lbw to George Burrows for 31, before the heroic Hosein became teenage spinner Jack Morley's maiden first-class victim when he feathered one behind for an outstanding 84 off 226 balls.

That bought the last pair of Sam Conners and Melton to the crease with a huge six from the latter off Danny Lamb raising hopes.

Seventeen precious runs were compiled for the 10th wicket, with the score on 195 when Melton went for one shot too many and was bowled by Lamb, who finished with 4-60.

The Lancashire batsmen looked to score quick runs before the close with varying degrees of success.

Rob Jones was caught at first slip by Madsen off Critchley for five, followed by Bohannon, who edged to the same fielder off Luis Reece for 35.

When Dane Vilas drove Critchley to Reece at mid-on for 10, to hand the spinner his fourth wicket of the innings, Lancashire had suddenly lost three for 16 and Derbyshire's faint hopes of victory remained.

There was still time for debutant George Lavelle to be trapped in front by Reece for seven but with teenager George Balderson (56 not out) scoring a maiden half-century and Lamb (16no) taking Lancashire to a lead of 336 by the close, it remains a huge task.

Match report supplied by PA Media.

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