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| Smith made 42 not out and claimed 5-53 to give Lancashire a chance of saving the game. |
An inspired spell of bowling from Tom Smith
led Lancashire’s fight back on the third day of their County Championship match
against Nottinghamshire, but the hosts remain in control at close of play.
Smith claimed four wickets for one run,
finishing with 5-53, as the hosts lost their last seven wickets for 32 runs,
but were able to fall back on a lead of 348 runs which they had earned after
Lancashire were bowled out for 144.
Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels (90) frustrated
the visitors for a large portion of the day, earning 117 runs for the fourth
wicket as Nottinghamshire increased their already superior lead over
Lancashire.
Smith also proved to be the key Lancashire
man with the bat and his unbeaten 42 ensured that they would narrowly avoid the
humiliation of having to follow-on.
Luke Fletcher’s introduction proved to be
decisive in brining the innings to a conclusion, claiming the wicket of Simon
Kerrigan (11) with his first ball and James Anderson for a golden duck as he
finished with 3-15.
The Nottinghamshire openers made batting
look comparatively easy, as Steven Mullaney (26) and Phil Jaques (30) scored 56
for the first wicket, taking the home side’s lead to 184.
Kabir Ali (3-29) removed both of the
Nottinghamshire openers and the key man from the first innings, Samit Patel,
but the fourth-wicket stand perpetuated Nottinghamshire’s dominance.
After making 39 in the first innings,
Wessels took charge, alongside Lumb (38) and the pair dispatched the Lancashire
bowlers throughout the afternoon session.
But Smith and James Anderson (2-53) came
back fighting after tea and gave Lancashire a fleeting chance of batting the
rest of the match to salvage a draw.
However, the late loss of opener, Luis
Reece (6), means that the visitors still need 342 to win with just nine wickets
in hand
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