CRICKET: Bohannon century keeps Lancashire in charge against Derbyshire

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Emirates Old Trafford (day two of four)

Derbyshire 244: Godleman 111; Gleeson 5-64

Lancashire 269-2: Bohannon 150*, Livingstone 70*

Lancashire (5 pts) lead Derbyshire (1 pt) by 25 runs

A maiden first-class century for Josh Bohannon strengthened Lancashire’s position in their Specsavers County Championship match against Derbyshire at Emirates Old Trafford.

The all-rounder hit an unbeaten 150 as Lancashire closed the second day on 269-2 – with a lead of 25. Bohannon has hit 21 fours and two sixes in his innings so far and passed his previous career best of 98 not out.

He was supported well by Liam Livingstone who struck an unbeaten 70. The pair added an unbeaten 194 for the third wicket which is Lancashire’s highest partnership of the season and their 13th stand of 100 or more this season.

After the morning session was washed out, Derbyshire’s bowlers came out and struggled to find their rhythm and allowed Lancashire’s batsmen to punish anything short or full.

The only wicket of the day came in the 20th over. Keaton Jennings (38) shouldered arms to a delivery from young spinner Hamidullah Qadri and the Red Rose were 75-2.

Derbyshire’s lacklustre attack continued to toil but went unrewarded and poor fielding made the day even more difficult for the visitors, who have their eyes firmly fixed on Finals Day of the Vitality Blast.

Both Bohannon and Livingstone offered no chances and continued to assert Lancashire’s dominance as the day went on. They will be looking to extend the lead when play resumes tomorrow.

WHAT THEY SAID

After an astonishing day, Bohannon said: “I’m really chuffed. Having been stranded on 98 earlier in the season it was great to go a couple better this time around.

“I’ve been bumped up the order a couple of times and Dane [Vilas] thought that I deserved more of a chance. I just needed one score and thankfully it’s gone okay today.

“Playing first-class cricket is what you dream about as a kid and hopefully it’ll be the first of many it what will be a long career,” he added.