Even before play began, it was a dramatic start to the opening day for
Lancashire in their Rothesay County Championship clash with Kent at
Stanley Park. Injuries and unavailabilities obliged them to activate Liam
Livingston, who is on a white ball contract only, to the side for his first
Championship game for five years. But rain throughout the morning
prevented play until after the players had taken an early lunch.
James Anderson won the toss and put Kent in to bat in front of a
rather modest crowd and it was slow going for Kent openers Ben
Dawkins and Harry Finch against some tight bowling by Anderson and
Tom Bailey.
Finch was the first to go, well caught at slip by a diving Keaton
Jennings for two at 11-1. Sam Northeast made 10 and was then bowled
by George Balderson. Nineteen-year-old Dawkins and his captain Daniel
Bell-Drummond fashioned an 87-run partnership after a parsimonious
Anderson, 1-6 from his opening six overs, had been replaced. And they
scored steadily so that it was 111-2 at tea.
It was all action immediately after the break with Kent losing three
wickets for no runs; Bell Drummond, 33, Dawkins, a hard-fought 54, and
Chris Benjamin, nought as Bailey bowled him first ball. Thereafter it was
the Livingstone story as the spinner worked his way through the rest of
the Kent batting line-up as he finished with an impressive 5-55. Only a
defiant 22 by Matt Milns and a spirited 11 from Matt Parkinson did much
to boost the Kent total as they were dismissed for 178.
With nine overs remaining Lancashire looked to be in a more
commanding position but the loss of Harry Singh, bowled by Dudgeon
before he had scored and Jennings, leg before wicket to the same
bowler playing no stroke, meant Lancashire closed at 17-2. This made
the day a little more even so we will have to see what develops today …
weather permitting!

Gerry Wolstenholme