Lancashire v Northamptonshire, Rothesay County Championship, Days 1-4

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Northamptonshire’s cricketers completed a quite outstanding all-round display 35 minutes after lunch when they defeated Lancashire by 316 runs in the Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.

Resuming on 24 for two, Lancashire were bowled out for 129, debutant Ben Walkden top-scoring with 22 not out. Pick of a superb attack was probably Ben Sanderson, who finished with two for 32 to give him match figures of six for 71, but this was a triumph for every member of the visitors’ five-man attack.

Luke Procter’s team are hoping to return to the First Division for the first time since they were relegated in 2023 and no one could doubt their credentials as they outclassed their opponents and completed a victory that leaves them four points behind second-placed Kent in a high-quality second tier.

Lancashire stand-in captain, Josh Bohannon, said: 

“It's pretty obvious we were out-skilled in probably every facet of the game. Obviously, it’s frustrating, it stings, probably stings for a few days now.

“It's incredibly frustrating. It feels like we're having good chats, it feels like the work that the boys are putting in, in practice with the coaches is really valuable. It feels like we're making forward strides with that. Just ultimately, for whatever reason, it's not quite translating out into the middle yet. 

“Everyone knows that confidence comes from winning and performing. That's pretty obvious. It's really hard because as a club, we're trying to develop younger players who we think are incredibly talented and got a really bright future, not only with us as a club, but just in the game of cricket in general. 

“For me, it takes a real group collective for people, not just senior players, young players as well. But ultimately, that's led by senior players and putting performances in and showing that in experience. 

“We're obviously in a difficult position at the minute, but everyone knows, through good performances, winning, that culture, the chats that you have around the dressing room change really quickly. 

“And whether that success comes from the back end of the season, that can sort of fast forward to the start of next season.”

Day 3

Northamptonshire desire to win promotion and their capability to do so was plain after they had totally 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 piled up 298 for four declared in 64 overs, with Ricardo Vasconcelos making 100, his fourth century of the season, and Saif Zaib 55 not out. 

Needing a notional 446 to win, ended the day on 24 for two after losing both Keaton Jennings and Marcus Harris in the final 11 overs of the day.

Lancashire head coach, Steven Croft, said

“We’ve been out-skilled today again with bat and ball, are behind in this game as well, and tomorrow we've got to come back and show what we're about.

“We have to fight back and throw some punches of our own, because today we were second best again.

“I think we did okay in the first innings with the ball, but I think if we were honest, we probably wanted a total of 200-220.

“And similar with the bat, there's rewards out there if you bowled well - I thought they bowled well - and we no doubt should have done better with the bat.

“Then going into the second innings, it may be quite an even contest, but we were a little bit short with both skill sets so they go into their second innings with a sizable lead on that surface.

“They made it hard, we didn't make early inroads, so then were chasing our tail for the rest of the game."

Day 2

George Bartlett made a fighting 92 in two minutes short of four hours to help Northamptonshire post a competitive 284 on the second day of their Rothesay County Championship match against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.

And the visitors then made vital breakthroughs late in the day to leave Lancashire on 68 for two when bad light curtailed play at just after 7.00pm.

A victory in this match would bolster Northamptonshire’s hopes of winning promotion in what is a tightly contested division.

Lancashire supporters could be encouraged by the bowling of George Balderson, who took four for 70 and by the resolution shown by the opening pair, Keaton Jennings and Marcus Harris in putting on 45 in difficult conditions before Harris fell to Luke Procter.

Lancashire all-rounder, George Balderson, said:

“I think it's shaping up to be a good game of cricket.

“I reckon we'd have wanted to bowl them out for a little bit less, having had them 140 for six, but as it is here at Old Trafford, when the ball gets soft, it can be hard work to get through that lower order and that was the way it was for us. And I thought we put in some good performances.

“I thought Ben Walkden was very impressive for his first outing. And if we can get through the next 15, 20 overs and get their ball to 40 overs old, then we'll fancy ourselves to go past them and put them under some pressure.“

I think you always want to go past them, especially when you know that we're going to be batting last on this pitch. We'd aim to try and get as far past them as we can and then give ourselves the advantage of not having to get too many in that fourth inning. But there's a lot of work to do before we get there. 

Day 1
Northamptonshire proceeded carefully to 56 for two after 18 overs on a badly rain-affected first day of their Rothesay County Championship match against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.

Overnight rain and further showers prevented play starting until 3.30 at Manchester and then curtailed a projected 48-over session 77 minutes later, one ball after Ben Walkden had taken his maiden first-class wicket on his Lancashire debut.

However, Northamptonshire might be content with the modest progress they have made after being asked to bat in bowler-friendly conditions more akin to April than August. When play was abandoned at 5.30, the former Lancashire all-rounder – and visiting skipper – Luke Procter was 26 not out.

Lancashire debutant all-rounder, Ben Walkden, said:

“It was unbelievable, obviously a proud moment to make my debut at Lancashire.

“I was a bit nervous that first over, but as soon as it got past that, Bosh just said, be boring, and that was it.

“I just felt in good rhythm this year with the ball, so after that, just got a lot of confidence from Bosh and the lads, and it was good to get one away. I’m over the moon.

“As soon as he (Bohannon) got up there for the catch, that was it, I was off. He absolutely loved it, so that was a great catch.

“I took over the captaincy at Newton-le-Willows for the last two years, opening the batting and the bowling, and I've sort of just took my bowling to a bit of a new level. I've been away the last couple of winters to Australia and worked pretty hard.

“I came through the academy a couple of years ago, had time away, and just worked hard at my game, so I didn't really think that this was ever out of the reach. You just bang on the door, take wickets, score some runs, and just see where you are, and obviously I got that opportunity in the second team, and then been thrown in the last couple of weeks in the one-day stuff in the squad, and I absolutely loved it.

“It's been a bit of a whirlwind in a couple of weeks. My mum, dad and my grandma came today and then just a couple of mates came last minute. I think a couple of them have taken an early weekend tomorrow! I'm going to enjoy the weekend, I think, hopefully get over the line with a win.”