Heavy rain in the Lower Ure Valley on Wednesday afternoon and evening had not entirely disappeared when I drove to York yesterday morning to take the train to Merseyside for the second day of Lancashire v Gloucestershire at Aigburth. The forecast was for light rain to clear and give sunny spells and such proved the case. Play began an hour late with Lancs resuming their innings which had been interrupted by heavy rain on the first day.
The hour's wait passed quickly enough in the company of some red rose pcws whose main concerns for the season centred on the vulnerability of Lancashire's top order. It had been found wanting on Wednesday when they had been reduced to 26 for 3 and 90 for 4 before being rescued by Katich and Croft. These two made a confident start but the dismissal of Katich for 96 led to the fall of more wickets and lunch was taken at 232 for 8.
Gloucestershire finished bottom of Division Two last season and may feel a little heartened by their start to this one for their one win has at least placed them above three other sides. There are a number playing in this match who are unfamiliar to me. The side retains only four of those who were involved in the exciting finish at Scarborough at last year's festival. including a new captain in MIchael Klinger who took the M5 from New Road to Nevil Road in the close season.
The pcws mood at lunch was that the best they could hope for was another batting point but led by Kyle Hogg the last two wickets added 88 to bring Lancashire to 310 all out. Gloucestershire's hero was Craig Miles with a career best 6 for 88. During the afternoon the weather forecasters had been vindicated by the appearance of the sun from time to time but it was never shirt sleeve order. During the break between innings the man next to me pointed out that Glen Chapple needed one wicket to reach 900 in first class cricket and to his delight (my neighbour's) and Chapple's it was not long arriving when Agathangelou clung on to a catch to dismiss Klinger in the third over. Credit to the pa announcer who was quick off the mark to point out the significance of this event and shortly after tea Chapple set out towards his thousandth when Dent was LBW at 43 for 2.
The clouds which had been building up produced one of the briefest showers ever recorded but Messrs Mallender and Dawood took the players from the field at 66 for 3 and at almost exactly the point when I needed to leave to catch my bus to Liverpool Parkway South Station.
The bus journey to this excellent transport hub takes only ten minutes, and the station gives access to a range of train and bus services as well as serving John Lennon Airport. I recommend it for any pcws travelling to Aigbuth.
While I made my way back over The Pennines, Gidman and Howell brought Gloucestershire back into the game with an undefeated stand for the fifth wicket of 77 which leaves the game nicely balanced and with the weather looking settled a positive outcome seems likely by stumps on Saturday.
The photograph is of Earby ,the home club of Glen Chapple
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