12-07-2022, 20:46
Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings produced an unbeaten one hundred and fifty partnership as Lancashire replied strongly to Somerset’s total of 446 in this LV= County Championship match at Southport to be 282 runs behind at the close of play at 164-0 on a day when just five wickets fell.
Wells ended unbeaten on 99 while Jennings finished on 61 with both batsmen passing 500 runs for the season during their innings.
Initially the pair fought hard to win a fascinating battle with veteran Somerset pace duo Peter Siddle and Jack Brooks - and the rest of the visitors’ attack - in the early part of their alliance prior to tea before playing in a more expansive fashion after the interval.
Wells had struck drives off back and front foot in one Lewis Gregory over just before tea and he posted the fifty partnership with another through cover off Siddle from the second ball after the break.
A sweep for four, his ninth, off Roelof van der Merwe took Wells to his fifty off 95 balls and the tall left hand bat hit the left-arm spinner for a six into the sightscreens to bring up the hundred partnership in the 36th over.
Jennings, hitherto playing more of a supporting role, stepped up to launch Amar Virdi for a straight six and added two more fours to reach his fifty from 131 balls.
Wells closed in on a third Lancashire century but was one shy when stumps were drawn but he and Jennings have given Lancashire a great platform for tomorrow.
“It’s been a good, hard-fought day for us,” was Luke Wells’ assessment.
“It’s a really good pitch and day two here generally is the best one for batting.
“We knew it would be hard work for our bowlers so for me and Keats to go out and get that big partnership, we’re doing everything we can to try and get a positive result from this game.
Wells wasn’t unduly bothered about being one run shy of his century.
“If I was a twenty-one year-old I’d be a lot more nervous. I think I’m alright (about it) to be honest,” he laughed.
“I’d rather be 99 not out than be already sat back in the pavilion. So I’m not too fussed.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow Wells added: “the most important thing is we are both not out overnight. We can set a good foundation, hopefully go through the gears, see if we can get parity and go from there.”
“The only strategy is score big runs, score them reasonably quickly and then rock n’roll them in the third innings.
“Whether we’ve got a big enough lead so we don’t have to bat again or end up having to have a quick dash on day four, realistically that’s the only way we are going to win.
“It’s going to really difficult, let’s be honest, because we are going to have to get ten wickets reasonably quickly. So never say never, but it’s our best shot and we will do everything we can to try for it.”
Earlier Lancashire had conceded their highest total of the season so far as Somerset reached a big total of 446.
Lewis Goldsworthy had taken 22 balls to add to his overnight score of 103 and his fine effort ended on 130 in the second hour of the morning after he nicked a leg glance to wicketkeeper Dane Vilas off George Balderson's second ball of the day.
It was Lewis Gregory who put some impetus into the visitor’s innings with some sweetly timed boundaries before he was the first to depart when pulling Will Williams to Jack Morley at fine leg for 42.
And Morley next took a superb diving catch after running from long leg to fine leg to dismiss Siddle for 5 off Luke Wood.
But van der Merwe and Brooks pushed the total up to 400 on the stroke of lunch, with Brooks lbw to Morley for 27 early in the afternoon.
That was a cue for van der Merwe to put bat to ball and he did so effectively hitting three sixes before being last out for 55 after chopping on against Wood with Somerset 446 all out.
Wells ended unbeaten on 99 while Jennings finished on 61 with both batsmen passing 500 runs for the season during their innings.
Initially the pair fought hard to win a fascinating battle with veteran Somerset pace duo Peter Siddle and Jack Brooks - and the rest of the visitors’ attack - in the early part of their alliance prior to tea before playing in a more expansive fashion after the interval.
Wells had struck drives off back and front foot in one Lewis Gregory over just before tea and he posted the fifty partnership with another through cover off Siddle from the second ball after the break.
A sweep for four, his ninth, off Roelof van der Merwe took Wells to his fifty off 95 balls and the tall left hand bat hit the left-arm spinner for a six into the sightscreens to bring up the hundred partnership in the 36th over.
Jennings, hitherto playing more of a supporting role, stepped up to launch Amar Virdi for a straight six and added two more fours to reach his fifty from 131 balls.
Wells closed in on a third Lancashire century but was one shy when stumps were drawn but he and Jennings have given Lancashire a great platform for tomorrow.
“It’s been a good, hard-fought day for us,” was Luke Wells’ assessment.
“It’s a really good pitch and day two here generally is the best one for batting.
“We knew it would be hard work for our bowlers so for me and Keats to go out and get that big partnership, we’re doing everything we can to try and get a positive result from this game.
Wells wasn’t unduly bothered about being one run shy of his century.
“If I was a twenty-one year-old I’d be a lot more nervous. I think I’m alright (about it) to be honest,” he laughed.
“I’d rather be 99 not out than be already sat back in the pavilion. So I’m not too fussed.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow Wells added: “the most important thing is we are both not out overnight. We can set a good foundation, hopefully go through the gears, see if we can get parity and go from there.”
“The only strategy is score big runs, score them reasonably quickly and then rock n’roll them in the third innings.
“Whether we’ve got a big enough lead so we don’t have to bat again or end up having to have a quick dash on day four, realistically that’s the only way we are going to win.
“It’s going to really difficult, let’s be honest, because we are going to have to get ten wickets reasonably quickly. So never say never, but it’s our best shot and we will do everything we can to try for it.”
Earlier Lancashire had conceded their highest total of the season so far as Somerset reached a big total of 446.
Lewis Goldsworthy had taken 22 balls to add to his overnight score of 103 and his fine effort ended on 130 in the second hour of the morning after he nicked a leg glance to wicketkeeper Dane Vilas off George Balderson's second ball of the day.
It was Lewis Gregory who put some impetus into the visitor’s innings with some sweetly timed boundaries before he was the first to depart when pulling Will Williams to Jack Morley at fine leg for 42.
And Morley next took a superb diving catch after running from long leg to fine leg to dismiss Siddle for 5 off Luke Wood.
But van der Merwe and Brooks pushed the total up to 400 on the stroke of lunch, with Brooks lbw to Morley for 27 early in the afternoon.
That was a cue for van der Merwe to put bat to ball and he did so effectively hitting three sixes before being last out for 55 after chopping on against Wood with Somerset 446 all out.
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