Lancashire frustrated by lifeless batting display.

Lancashire were made to fight hard for their wickets.

The second day of Lancashire's visit to Edgbaston proved to be a peculiar one as Warwickshire batted with little purpose in their first innings, closing on 130-4 after 71 overs with a deficit of 156 runs to overturn. 

William Porterfield's innings was certainly one for the connoisseur, as the Irish opening batsman reached his third half-century of the season in 177 deliveries to prolong Lancashire's frustration.

The visitors had earlier finished their first innings on 286 after Tom Smith reached his fifth fifty, in what is proving to be a successful season for the Lancashire all-rounder as he led the visitors towards a respectable total.

Lancashire resumed on 188-6 and it took them just 12 deliveries to earn their first batting point of the match as Smith and visiting skipper, Glen Chapple (33), added 59 runs for the seventh-wicket. Their partnership injected life into an otherwise sub-standard display from Lancashire and put the match back in the balance as the visitors soon reached 250.

Chapple continues to be a more than useful lower-order batsman even at the age of 40, but was removed by Chris Wright (3-67) after edging to Varun Chopra at first slip. Kyle Hogg (3) made minimal impact and fell with the score at 241-8, but Kabir Ali’s defiance ensured that Lancashire would achieve their second batting bonus point.

He was able to add 30 runs to Lancashire’s total to assist the efforts of Tom Smith, who reached fifty in 153 balls before he was out soon after reaching this milestone, after playing-on to Boyd Rankin (2-61) Ali was unable to guide the visitors to 300 and chipped the ball to Ben Hain at mid-on as Lancashire were bowled out for 286.

In reply, Warwickshire soon found themselves 62-3, before a 51-run stand between Porterfield and Hain steadied the innings, one which left many a spectator wondering as to what tactic the home side were trying to employ.

Chopra’s time at the crease earned him just nine runs before he edged to Andrea Agathangelou at second slip off Ali (1-22) and a curious innings from Ateeq Javid (7) resulted in the hosts stumbling to 31-2.

Javid’s 49-ball stand became a sign that Warwickshire were going to make Lancashire work hard for their wickets, but with little runs to reaffirm their plans, it seemed to be a bold move.

Warwickshire lost a third wicket when Laurie Evans fell for 20 as his edge found Paul Horton at first slip after attempting to late-cut off Hogg (1-24). At 62-3 the hosts needed to respond and the efforts of Porterfield and Hain were enough to limit the damage of Lancashire’s attack.

Porterfield’s patience was rewarded with a half-century, one which took over four hours to compile as Warwickshire attempted to edge their way towards Lancashire’s total. Hain added 22 runs in 81 balls before he was trapped lbw by Smith (1-17) and wicket keeper, Tim Ambrose, was unbeaten on 12 when play came to a close.