COACH Peter Moores believes Lancashire are capable of producing another famous Aigburth fightback in their County Championship clash with Hampshire.
After rain washed out the opening day, there was no shortage of action yesterday with 14 wickets falling as the bowlers dominated in overcast conditions.
Lancashire slumped to 208 all out – with Andrew Flintoff contributing just 12 – but they rallied after tea to reduce Hampshire to 124-4 by the close.
Last year Lancashire were bowled out for 107 by Kent and conceded a 126-run first innings deficit but rallied to clinch a 70-run win. Moores is hoping lightning will strike twice but admits his side’s batting will have to improve. He said: “We’re a little bit frustrated because we didn’t bat as well as we can.
“Although there was something in it for the seamers and it swung a little bit, we didn’t play to our full potential.
“People got in but never pushed on with a proper partnership to get us up to a challenging total.
“Fortunately today we came back strongly with the ball to keep ourselves in the game.
“The biggest positive is it’s a three-day game now and it’s moved forward quickly on day one.
“Both sides will be trying to get a result out of it and the game is pretty evenly poised.
“We would have liked to have got another wicket tonight but when we first started to bowl if we had been offered 124-4 we would probably have taken it.
“We need to come back strong tomorrow, get early wickets and put them under pressure.
“Then when we’ve bowled Hampshire out we’re going to have to bat a lot better second time around.”
Lancashire elected to bat first and it looked plain sailing early on as openers Paul Horton (37) and Mal Loye (18) shared a stand of 47.
However, after Loye was trapped lbw by former Lancs seamer Dominic Cork (3-43) the game turned.
Flintoff, surprisingly promoted to number three, hammered a straight six off Dimitri Mascarenhas but was out next ball as he edged to Chris Benham.
Mascarenhas soon added the scalp of Horton and Chris Tremlett (4-49) instigated a middle order collapse.
At 127-7 Lancs were in deep trouble but Luke Sutton (25), Glen Chapple (27) and some lusty blows from Sajid Mahmood (30no) helped them limp past the 200-mark and secure a batting point.
Lancashire responded positively after tea with Chapple removing Jimmy Adams early on and Gary Keedy claimed two wickets as Hampshire were reduced to 71-4.
But after that rookie James Vince (34no) and captain Nic Pothas (35no) stood firm and Flintoff remained wicketless despite bowling seven increasingly hostile overs.
