BLACKPOOL (third day of four): Warwickshire, with all second-innings wickets in hand, need 225 runs to avoid an innings defeat by Lancashire
GIVEN the forecast and the shaking heads of some local soothsayers, absurdly bright sunshine bathed Blackpool all day yesterday as if to cock a snook.
Lancashire took advantage, bowling as a pack to harry out a lacklustre Warwickshire side, who seemed to be playing for rain from the start and scored at just over two an over for most of the day. Warwickshire were all out for 231, conceding a lead of 225 and were forced to follow on and face two overs before the close.
If Lancashire can win this game (and the forecast for today, for what it is worth, is bad), the heroes may be the groundstaff, who said they took more than 1,000 gallons of water off the surface yesterday morning after more heavy overnight rain.
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“I got in at quarter to seven and Walter Danson [Blackpool’s new groundsman] was already here,” Peter Marron, Lancashire’s groundsman, who has been overseeing the preparation, said. “The Whale [the mopping machine] can take up 60 to 90 gallons in one go and I went round the outfield maybe 20 times.”
Play started on time and Lancashire batted 23 minutes, adding 27 runs before declaring. Naqaash Tahir took all three wickets to finish with a career-best seven for 107.
Warwickshire began comfortably, but Tom Smith started to pitch it up, having Mark Wagh caught at gully driving. Moeen Ali followed shortly afterwards, caught behind pushing forward to Kyle Hogg. In the next over Jonathan Trott edged a cut to give Murali Kartik, the India left-arm spinner, his first championship wicket of the season.
Ian Westwood’s vigil prevented a total collapse. He batted 4¼ hours for 67 off 198 balls. But on a good pitch starting to show signs of uneven bounce, only Nick Knight showed any ability to stay with him. Knight edged a good ball that left him from Smith and Tim Ambrose was bowled, caught in his crease, by Dominic Cork and Warwickshire’s innings was in terminal trouble.
Alex Loudon received a couple of reprieves as Lancashire put down at least four catches, the worst miss coming when he was on seven as he drove Smith to Cork at cover.
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The tail wagged but Paul Harris gave Luke Sutton his fifth catch, off Cork, leaving Warwickshire ready to perfrom a rain dance.