REPORT & QUOTES | Derbyshire defeated on final day at Old Trafford

Lancashire skipper James Anderson took four for 18 to help his side and defeat Derbyshire by 29 runs on a dramatic last day of the Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.

Having bowled out Lancashire for 160 in their second innings, Ben Aitchison taking three for 38, Derbyshire needed only 138 to record their first victory on this ground since 1996.

But Lancashire’s four-man seam attack had other ideas and despite skipper Harry Came’s 30, the visitors lost their last nine wickets for 75 runs with Anderson taking four for 7 in his 4.5-over second spell. Lancashire take 21 points from the game to Derbyshire’s six.

The morning’s play began in sensational fashion when Ben Aitchison took two wickets in two balls in the first over. Paul Coughlin was caught behind by Brooke Guest without adding to his overnight 47 when he was completely beaten by a fine delivery which bounced and moved away from him. Then Tom Bailey was late on his defensive shot and had his off stump knocked back by Aitchison’s third ball of the day.

Having walked out to bat still adjusting his dress and dropping his glove in the process, Mitch Stanley then dominated the strike to the extent that the ex-Australia Test batter. Harris faced only six balls in the first six overs of the session. However, Stanley was eventually trapped lbw by Muhammad Abbas for five and Harris was caught behind for 66 off Aitchison when trying to manufacture a single.

Derbyshire’s pursuit of 138 began badly when Caleb Jewell chipped Bailey to Harris in the second over of the innings.

But even more concerning for nervous visiting supporters were the dismissals of Matthew Montgomery, caught by Michael Jones at first slip for 12, and Guest pouched by Harry Singh at second for five, both wickets falling off the bowling of Paul Coughlin, who continued his excellent Lancashire debut by reducing Derbyshire to 39 for three 15 minutes before lunch.

Came and Martin Andersson took their side to 52 for three, still 86 runs short of their target at lunch, and the anxieties of visiting supporters were not soothed 15 minutes into the afternoon session when Came was caught behind for 30 when pushing uncertainly at Bailey. Twenty-one more runs had been scored via three boundaries and a ragbag of extras when that wicket fell but Came’s dismissal slowed the scoring rate.

James Anderson capitalised on the batter uncertainty to take two wickets in an over and reduce Derbyshire to 77 for six. Having made 15, Martin Andersson wafted uncharacteristically loosely outside the off stump and edged a catch to Jones at first slip. Then Anuj Dal was pinned lbw for a third-ball duck to leave Lancashire as warm favourites to win the game.

That position when strengthened when Luis Reece was seventh out, leg before wicket to Mitch Stanley for 10 when 47 runs were still needed for victory. Ben Aitchison hit three boundaries in ten balls but was then lbw for 13, who also had Shoaib Bashir caught at slip by Harry Singh for two in his next over. That left Derbyshire on 108 for nine and a chaotic misunderstanding between Abbas and Zak Chappell resulted in Chappell being run out for five to end the game and spark riotous Lancashire celebrations.

Alex Hughes said: “That was incredibly disappointing. We played some really good cricket for three days and some fantastic cricket was played by two really good teams.

“We did superbly to bowl them out for 160 – that was as good as I’ve seen our bowling attack for a while – and then we did show the same disciplines as we did in the first innings.

“We succumbed to pressure and that was the difference between the two teams. They put pressure on us for longer and ultimately, we were the team to break.

“This type of games always brings nerves – and that’s good because it shows you’re putting yourself in a position to win – but I’m pretty gutted and the lads in there are as well. It’s a lonely changing room when you lose a game like that.”