Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, Chesterfield (day one)
Lancashire 161: Balderson 37; Abbas 3-49, Dal 3-49
Derbyshire 197-5: Montgomery 86; Stanley 2-34
Derbyshire (3 pts) lead Lancashire (1 pt) by 36 runs
Match scorecard
Lancashire’s batting woes continued when they were bundled out cheaply by Derbyshire on the opening day of the County Championship Division Two match at Chesterfield.
After they were routed for 87 by Kent last week, Lancashire subsided to 161 on a challenging pitch with all-rounder George Balderson’s 37 the only score of note.
Pakistan Test paceman Muhammad Abbas took 3-49, figures matched by Anuj Dal in his first game since he damaged ankle ligaments in April.
Matthew Montgomery then drove home Derbyshire’s advantage with 86 before two late wickets revived Lancashire’s spirits with the hosts closing on 197-5, a lead of 36, when bad light ended play.
The tree-lined Queen’s Park ground was the stage for Sir James Anderson and Abbas, two of the four highest first-class wicket-takers in world cricket still playing, to strut their stuff and the latter soon made his mark.
After Derbyshire elected to bowl on a well-grassed pitch, Abbas took advantage by removing both Lancashire openers in his first spell.
Keaton Jennings edged the first ball he faced to Ben Aitchison at second slip with only three on the board. And Abbas had his 888th wicket when he nipped one back to bowl Michael Jones.
Lancashire’s decline continued when Josh Bohannon got a leading edge to mid off and Marcus Harris followed four overs later.
The Australian hit three fours from Dal’s first five balls but the all-rounder had the last word when he knocked out the off stump.
There was plenty on offer for the bowlers but Liam Livingstone could not blame the conditions after he edged a big drive at Aitchison.
The pace bowler received his county cap before play started and had more cause for celebration when he bowled Joe Moores to reduce the visitors to 74- 6.
Harry Singh and Balderson at least took Lancashire past three figures at lunch but any hope of a substantial recovery ended when Dal removed them both in the space of four balls
Anderson had the satisfaction of driving Abbas down the ground to the pavilion ropes before Mitchell Stanley missed a big swing at Rory Haydon.
Stanley hit back by having Harry Came caught behind in his first over but crucially, Derbyshire survived Anderson’s opening spell
Although Balderson had Luis Reece well taken at first slip, Montgomery combined watchful defence with controlled aggression to take the hosts to 75-2 at tea.
His 50 contained 10 fours which highlighted the inconsistency of Lancashire’s bowling and Caleb Jewell was also starting to prosper before he went back to Stanley and was bowled.
Martin Andersson went cheaply, pushing forward at Bohannon, but with Wayne Madsen to resume in the morning, Derbyshire will be confident of building a sizeable lead.
Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.