Rain halts Lancashire progress

Only 52 overs were possible on another rain shorten day at Emirates Old Trafford. Leaving Lancashire in control but running out of time to clinch victory over Glamorgan.

Play started on time at 11 am under clear blue skies but the forecast was for torrential rain to arrive in the afternoon. Surrey and Gloucestershire were delayed at Bristol and eventually the rain got the better of day three of their match.

Night watchman Andrew Salter (45) and Glamorgan skipper Jacques Rudolph (22) resumed day three with the overnight score 48/1. Lancashire opted for the pace bowlers first up and opened the bowling with Glen Chapple (2-41) and Kyle Jarvis (0-37). It wasn’t long before Chapple had the first breakthrough of the morning Rudolph nibbled at a ball outside his off stump and nicked the ball behind to Davies.

Colin Ingram (17) joined Salter in the middle but it wasn’t long before change bowler James Faulkner (2-29) had him heading back to the pavilion. Ingram decided to leave a Faulkner delivery that nipped back and uprooted his off-stump.

Lancashire had brought their spinners into the attack on a wicket that was starting to respond to turn. The change paid off just before the lunch break when Simon Kerrigan (1-44) turned a ball past the edge of an advancing Salter, Davies removed his bails in a flash. Leaving the Welsh county 133/4 at the interval.

The weather was starting to turn and with reports of other matches being delayed south of Manchester the players took to the field for the afternoon session.

Chris Cooke (31) and David Lloyd (15) resumed under a cloudy sky with increasing winds.  It wasn’t long before Chapple claimed his second victim, Lloyd attempted to run the ball into the off side but only succeeded in dragging the ball into his stumps. His middle stump left on the floor as he made his way from the field to be replaced by Mark Wallace (20*).

Lancashire’s final wicket of the day was that of Cooke who was trapped leg before to Faulkner in the 67^th over. This wicket gave Lancashire their second bowling point which could prove crucial in decided who goes up as champion from division two.

Only 10 further deliveries were possible when a mixture of bad light and fine drizzle forced the players from the field. Only five minutes later the rain started to fall heavily.

Despite slight breaks in the rain and proposed inspections by the umpires no further play was possible.

Glamorgan will resume on day four trailing by 280 runs with four first innings wickets remaining. Lancashire will hope that they can bowl Glamorgan out quickly and enforce a follow on to stand any chance of a victory.