Calm after the storm

By Rod Ed
September 15 2016

Rod Ed tells us about the next potentially pivotal day in our Championship adventure. We get news of how to dry out after a storm as well as a slow outfield and a maiden hundred. If you saw the end of the day you know how it ends all poised for the last day. 

How slow was the outfield

Since my day 3 attendance would be truncated by having to leave at tea to catch my train home to Edinburgh I'll start the report at close of play on day 2.
With a prompt finish at 5. 30 and the pub on which I'd booked a room only just over a mile away I decided to walk. Big mistake! About half way it became very dark followed by torrential rain, thunder and lightening.  I was completely soaked on arrival but luckily and unusually for a room over a pub there was an electric heater as well as iron and ironing board to aid overnight drying.
Waking to blue sky was good but news had it the Metro was flooded leading to disruption.However I arrived at the ground in good time to see the players playing football on the outfield and the promise of starting on time.

Good to see play after the storm

TRJ & Murts opened with the outfield perhaps slower since Lancs managed an all run four off Toby.  One of the scoreboards had been a victim of the storm so score updates came from the audible PA.
After 8 overs Ollie replaced Toby, bowled a maiden but was then lofted for 4 to bring up Jones maiden 50.  Finny then replaced Murts and though he got some variable bounce batting was untroubled and after the 100 partnership, Livingstone got his maiden 50 with an edge through vacant 3rd slip.  Next ball his edge was not so wide and Ollie took a good catch to his right.
Finny was bending his back to get bounce although there was also some low bounce. TRJ replaced him and the follow on was saved with a gloved 4 down the leg side. 160/6.
Ollie then chose to go round the wicket with two helmets close in on the leg side.  At the other end there were three slips, Compo still in helmet (!) for Bailey who played and missed frequently.
Lunch after 71 overs, 168/6, during which the scoreboard came back to life.
Mala then bowled a couple of overs to hasten the new ball taken by Murts at 1.40 pm.  Batsmen now seemed comfortable and after 8 overs large areas of the leg side were vacant with two back for the hook, but all that followed was a gloved four to fine leg. After ten overs came a double change with Ollie and Finny who gave Bailey a few sharp words which then brought an edge over Simmo for his maiden 50.
Eventually Bailey didn't play and miss and was caught by Robbo at first slip off Finn. Next ball a Compo catch at 3rd slip to make it 230/8.  Four slips for the hat trick ball were to no avail.
Jones then went to his maiden ton with a lofted six, after which Finny castled Kerrigan only to be no balled. He was soon LBW though making it nine down and I thought I would get an extra half hour play before having to leave but Ollie got the last wicket, and his 50th of the season, which secured the last bonus point.
The PA then informed us that Jones is the youngest Lancastrian since Cyril Washbrook in the 1930s to carry his bat. Thankfully none of the MTWD contingent could remember that innings.
That's my watching over for the season, good luck lads for the rest of this match and for next week.