County Championship 2022 | Clinical bowling effort pushes Lancashire on back-foot

Day 2 of the County Championship Division One fixture between Lancashire and Essex ended with the latter holding a strong grip in Manchester. 

The day began with Essex at 280/7, with Daniel Lawrence and Shane Snater at the crease. The duo were impressive with their positive intent in the morning session in overcast weather, and the rain delay also could not trouble them either. 

After the pair added 54 in around 10 overs into the day, Lawrence was holed out to Anderson off Luke Wood in silly mid-on area in an attempt to play a lofted shot. 

After his dismissal, Snater did not lose his momentum and was terrific with ball-striking capabilities. Hasan Ali darted in an accurate good-length ball at a searing pace, which caught Snater off-guard and was adjudged LBW for 72 off 82 balls, comprising 10 fours and a single six. James Porter was run-out in the same over, which brought curtains to Essex’s innings, and they finished on 391. 

Lancashire had a cautious start in reply, but opener Keaton Jennings was nailed plumb in front by Samuel Cook in the fifth over. Then, in the fifth ball of the 8th over, Josh Bohannan was LBW by James Porter. Steven Croft played a nothing shot in the subsequent ball, and the edge was caught at the first slip by Sir Alastair Cook. 

Then the error of judgment from Luke Wells cost the fourth wicket for the team in the 11th over of the innings. However, the floodgates did not stop here, as the captain Dane Vilas tried to leave the ball, but it caught the inside-edge and was bowled by Snater. 

Lancashire were at 32/5 in 15 overs until the tea session, with Phil Salt at 9* and Luke Wood at 0*. With the cloud covers looming around, no play was possible in the final session, and 46 overs were washed out.

With this kind of domination, the trio of Porter-Cook-Snater would look to wrap up the Lancashire innings in the morning session of Day 3 and gain a sizable lead under their belt. 

Brief scores:

Lancashire- 32/5 (1st innings) 

Phil Salt 9*, Dane Vilas 11;

Samuel Cook 2/5, James Porter 2/19

Essex - 391/10 (1st innings)

Daniel Lawrence 120, Shane Snater 72;

Tom Bailey 3/61, Luke Wood 2/83