http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843 – County Championship Division One – Lancashire dominate first day
Lancashire took full use of an inexperienced bowling lineup to pile up 363 for 4 on Day 1 of the Championship Division game against Somerset, played at the County Ground, Taunton, on April 26, 2012.
It was pleasing return to form for the defending champions, after a substantially slow start to their campaign, which has seen them languishing at the bottom of the charts. While almost everyone chipped in with runs, the highlight of the day came from Steven Croft, who remained unbeaten on 113 - scoring his fourth First-Class century.
The away team’s impressive effort also countered the concerns of indifferent pitches at this team of the county season, with the track turning out to be a belter. However, the bowling lacked depth and more importantly, experience – conceding four-runs an over throughout the day.
It included the likes of Craig Overton, along with fellow 19-year-old’s in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lewis-Gregory-c72822, while Craig Meschede, 20, was playing his 8th game.
However, they had the experience of overseas South African sensation, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Paul-Horton-c2167 in the first over of the match, lbw, after the player offered no shot.
Following that was an abysmal display from the hosts, who made did little in creating pressure on the opposition, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-Moore-c2572 and Karl Brown adding 95 for the second wicket. The partnership looked threatening but Gregory, who conceded a whopping 49 from just five overs, finally managed to conjure up some extra pace, accounting for Brown (50).
The post lunch interval saw Somerset picking out an early wicket, with Trego, their most economical bowler of the Day, sending back http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Moore-c77694 on a well made 47.
The rest of the proceedings went in favour of the batting side as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Steven-Croft-c2583 batted with little difficulty – sharing 208 for the fourth-wicket. They remained unrushed, unfazed and kept on striking boundaries, making easy work of a raw bowling line up.
Prince remained unfortunate though after he fell just four runs short of his hundred off Overton. The youngster debuted ahead of his brother in this game and got his maiden wicket by removing the overseas Prorteas’ left-hander, with Nick Compton completing the catch at midwicket.
Croft continued his impressive touch to complete his century and was not out, along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gareth-Cross-c1459 (20), as Lancs closed the day on 363.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Hildreth-c1647, the Somerset stand in skipper, admitted that they were short of firepower in their bowling department.
“Our back-up bowlers let us down a bit,” said Hildreth. "We had simple game plans but we didn't execute them properly. It's a bit disappointing, but we have to remember that some of these bowlers are young."
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