Bad light earns Lancashire a draw.

Lancashire achieved an unlikely draw against Warwickshire who were chasing 120 to win in the final session, reaching 95-5 before bad light intervened.

Simon Kerrigan claimed 4-38 as Warwickshire’s chase lost all momentum and eventually came to a hault after bad light twice stopped play either side of Varun Chopra’s half-century.

Jeetan Patel earlier claimed 4-44 as Lancashire were bowled out for 196, with Tim Ambrose claiming nine dismissals in the second innings, setting a new record for this feat in matches between these two sides.

Resuming on 46-0, Lancashire had to rediscover their ability to build an innings, but it wasn’t long before the first wicket fell. Luis Reece batted himself to a standstill, eventually edging to Ian Bell for 11.

Paul Horton proved to be the only Lancashire man capable of playing a measured innings and with scores of 83 and 84 in this match will surely have his head held high.

His partnership with new signing Jos Buttler worth 71 seemed to be guiding the hosts away from defeat, but both batsmen fell in quick succession to put Warwickshire back on top after a lucrative morning session.

Horton passed his first innings score of 83 but fell shortly afterwards to the dangerous Patel and his wicket proved to be crucial, exposing a frail tail-order which capitulated in unfavourable conditions.

Lancashire lost their last six wickets for 39 runs with only Glen Chapple (15) offering resistance in the face of adversity, before he became Patel’s fourth and final victim of the innings.

After being bowled out for 196, Lancashire set the visitors an inadequate target of 120 to win, a target that seemed approachable with a strong batting line-up to call upon.

Chapple claimed the first scalp of the innings, removing William Porterfield for nine and Laurie Evan soon followed after Ashwell Prince took a smart catch off Kerrigan.

The run chase soon became a fight for survival, with another man round the bat for every wicket that fell. Anderson’s early bowling was well supported by Chapple (1-35), but it was Kerrigan who stole the show.

He removed Ian Bell after a brisk 14 and soon had Tim Ambrose out for a duck, with Prince once again called into the act with a low catch.

Ateeq Javid added an unbeaten 15 to support Chopra’s sturdy efforts, but light continued to deteriorate and it soon became clear that the standard of light was insufficient to continue.

Man of the match:

Paul Horton’s scores of 83 and 84 were a massive factor in this match for Lancashire. Without his resistance with the bat this match would have been beyond them long before the rain and light came to their rescue. Going forward, he will be a key man in the squad and is setting a good example for those who are struggling to find runs.