Leeds/Bradford MCCU Vs. Lancashire: Friendly.

Lancashire find form in Roses friendly.

Oliver Newby has made a positive start to Lancashire's
bowling -  taking two wickets in just four overs.

Lancashire were eventually bowled out for 309 after a shaky start to their innings against Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities and reduced their opponents to 11-3 in response. 

Alex Davies demonstrated his potential as a future batsman in the first XI, as he top-scored with 69 to guide Lancashire back in the right direction. 

The visitors start was dissatisfactory - achieving 24-2 early on. 

Tom Smith made his return to the Red Rose county, but he played a lose shot, managing just five. Andrea Agathangelou was out for naught, which was unusual based on his recent form.

Initially, the revival was led by Karl Brown, dismissed one shy of a half century, and Stephen Moore, who found some much needed form by reaching 58. The pair managed a stand worth 96, but were dismissed in quick succession.

Now 121-4, youngsters Joran Clark and Liam Livingstone had plenty of work to do, but neither was able to make a great contribution to proceedings, as both fell for single figures.

Davies' knock led the Lancashire innings and, supported by captain Stephen Parry (41), he was able to add 71 for the seventh-wicket. Parry was removed nine runs short of a well-deserved fifty by James Lee, who finished with figures of 4-40.

After his antics versus Durham in the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition, Kabir Ali continued to show his potential with the bat, adding a useful 40 to Lancashire's already impressive total. Lancashire's last four batsmen acquired 99 runs, which will have frustrated the hosts further after their positive start.

To make matters worse, Oliver Newby removed two of their batsmen to set up an unsuccessful hat-trick ball. Ali added to his contribution with the bat by taking Lancashire's first wicket at 3-1, followed by Newby's double-wicket over near the end of the first day. 

Still trailing by 298, the Leeds/Bradford MCC Universities have serious work to do, but they face an arduous task against the experienced line-up of bowlers yet to come in the Lancashire armoury.