Lancashire smashed 519 runs on day three of their County Championship clash against Kent at Stanley Park, Blackpool yesterday (June 24).
In a game which marked England legend James Anderson's captaincy debut, Lancashire chose to field first against Kent. The visitors made 374 in the first innings, with Anderson himself picking up 2-61 from 20 overs. Kent's innings ended mid-way through the second day. Lancashire openers Luke Wells (152) and Keaton Jennings (49) got them off to a solid start as they ended day two on 120-1 after 38 overs.
Nothing in the game at that point indicated that the third day would end up seeing as many runs being scored as it eventually did.
Wells stitched a 136-run partnership for the third wicket with Josh Bohannon, who made 124 off 210 balls. After Well's departure, Ashton Turner blazed his way through a run-a-ball ton, scoring 154 off 148 balls, his highest first-class score. Cameos from the lower middle order also helped as Lancashire piled up 519 runs in 104 overs bowled on the third day.
Finishing on 639-9, they declared overnight, Anderson having faced 10 balls for two runs. Kent sprang up a surprise on the fourth day, sending out leg-spinner Matt Parkinson to open the batting. He didn't succeed, making just four runs. At the time of writing, Kent are staring at a potential innings defeat, with their score reading 95-5.
Match 70, Lancashire vs Kent
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The 519 runs scored by Lancashire is not a record, however. The Lancashire record for most runs in a day is 640, which they scored against Sussex in 1937, while the County Championship record is 666 scored by Surrey and Northamptonshire combined in 1920. The overall first-class record is a whopping 721 runs scored by the touring Australian team against Essex in 1948. Those runs, however, came in 129 overs.
Why is James Anderson leading Lancashire?
Lancashire have had a poor season so far, not winning any of their eight games. They are seventh on the Division Two points table with 72 points, having lost two and drawn five games. Only Kent are below them with 69 points, but they have won two out of their eight games so far.
Anderson is captaining this game because regular skipper Marcus Harris has gone back to Australia for the birth of his child. Harris himself took over from Jennings as captain earlier this season after Lancashire's winless start. As for Anderson, he has never led in a first-class game before this.
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