Lancashire and Somerset Trade Blows on Thrilling First Day

Lancashire and Somerset engaged in a thrilling first day of their Vitality County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford, with 21 wickets falling and the home side holding a slender 10-run lead.

Lancashire, batting first on a seam-friendly pitch, were dismissed for 140 in just 40 overs. Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory wreaked havoc with the ball, claiming four wickets each. Lancashire's only resistance came from skipper Keaton Jennings, who scored a valiant 56.

Somerset's reply was equally shaky. George Balderson and Tom Bailey shared eight wickets between them, restricting the visitors to 146. Andy Umeed was dismissed for a duck off the first ball of the innings, but Archie Vaughan (21) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (19) provided some stability.

However, Balderson's double strike before tea and Bailey's three wickets after the break put Somerset in trouble. Gregory and Tom Abell briefly threatened to take the lead, but Bailey dismissed both batsmen to leave Somerset on the brink of collapse.

Jack Leach and Gregory added 25 for the last wicket before Leach was caught behind off Anderson Philip. Somerset's innings ended on 146, giving them a six-run first-innings lead.

Lancashire's second innings began disastrously as Jennings was dismissed for 4, edging Gregory to slip. Harry Singh and nightwatchman Will Williams survived the remaining overs to give Lancashire a 10-run lead heading into day two.

Tags: #VitalityCountyChampionship, #Lancashire, #Somerset, #KeatonJennings, #CraigOverton