County Championship: Keaton Jennings helps Lancashire set up victory chance at Hampshire
- In the County Championship, Keaton Jennings showcases his prowess, aiding Lancashire in establishing a promising position for victory against Hampshire. With Jennings leading the charge, Lancashire looks poised to seize the opportunity and secure a crucial win in the match.
At Utilita Bowl, Keaton Jennings struck a brilliant century to give Lancashire a commanding first-inning lead over Hampshire.
In the first game at the newly renamed ground, five batters—Nick Gubbins, James Vince, Tom Prest, Liam Dawson, and Luke Wells—scored fifty without reaching triple figures.
But Jennings stretched his overnight 85 into 172, and George Bell, 21, superbly supported him. However, with a first-class century within reach, Jennings ran himself out for 99.
With a 117-run lead, Lancashire was eventually bowled out for 484, with Liam Dawson taking 4-156. Will Williams took two wickets off Hampshire before the end, bringing their total to 39-2.
With a simple cover drive, former Test opener Jennings achieved his 28th first-class century in 234 balls. Before the bonus points ran out, Lancashire reached 350, and Jennings passed through 150.
The 166-run stand between Jennings and Bell was finally broken in the 40th over of the day when Dawson trapped Jennings while he played a reverse sweep.
Bell reached 50 runs in 132 balls, and a century looked likely even after Dawson had Tom Bailey leg before wicket and Matthew Hurst caught at first slip.
When a single was required for a fine first ton in the 1990s, he took off for it. Ian Holland couldn’t hit a straight shot from point because Jack Blatherwick saw that a run was never truly in the offering and sent him back.
Bell had fallen in the nineties for the second time, and a hundred years was undoubtedly not far off.
Williams was bowled by Dawson after his relentless spinning for 49 overs, and James Fuller then got his second wicket of the innings when Blatherwick edged behind.
Under the lights, Williams teased an adamant Fletcha Middleton’s outside edge and a swishing Ali Orr in 21 twilight overs, giving Lancashire a remote chance of forcing an improbable victory.
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