Monday, June 10th, 2019

BARNARD TOP SCORES ON DAY ONE AT BLACKFINCH NEW ROAD

worcestershire were bowled out for 98 in 38.1 overs on the rain-hit opening day of the specsavers county championship match with lancashire at New Road.

ed barnard, who was promoted to number six, top-scored with 32 in overcast conditions which were exploited by jimmy anderson (4-24) and graham onions (4-55).

the worcestershire bowlers were denied the chance to try and hit back as rain led to the players being driven off the field at 2.30pm and play was called off for the day two hours later.

the county gave a senior debut to england under-19 paceman adam finch with josh tongue ruled out with a forearm injury.

lancashire unsurprisingly opted to bowl on the same pitch used for yesterday’s england women-west indies women royal london odi international.

daryl mitchell (4) nicked an away swinger from onions through to keeper and skipper dane vilas and callum ferguson (1) was lbw to the former england paceman.

riki wessels (3) also went leg before to anderson and it became 24-4 when ross whiteley (1) was caught off a leading edge by haseeb hameed at cover point.

josh dell, who hit 61 on his championship debut versus durham, battled away to make 18 in 18 overs in the opening role but shouldered arms to a superb saqib mahmood delivery which came back sharply and was bowled.

barnard brought up the worcestershire fifty with a cover drive for four of onions in the 20th over.

it became 57-6 when red ball vice-captain ben cox (2) was caught behind off mahmood.

after lunch fit again wayne parnell (5) was bowled by onions and club captain joe leach (18) aimed suffered the same dismissal.

anderson wrapped up proceedings as charlie morris (1) and barnard were both safely pouched by vilas.