A return to 4 day action with a top of the table clash against 2nd placed Essex who had proven to be consistent with both bat and ball this season. With plenty of options and strong performers Lancashire returned to their default 4-day line up. Australian Joe Mennie missed out in order to accommodate spinners Liley and Parkinson whilst Butler was away on International duty became the only absentee from the full strength squad.
The red rose made first use of a slightly worn pitch and batted first after winning the toss. Both openers started brightly before the introduction of spin accounted for the loss of Jennings (31) and then Livingstone for a duck and cause Lancashire to limp to 71-2 off at lunch.
A relatively chanceless partnership then ensued between Hammeed (69) who fell just after tea and Chanderpaul (75) who was bowled by the accurate Bopara by the last delivery before the new ball was due.
Essex continued to make inroads with regularity, preventing any other meaningful partnership from developing and the home side limped to 251-7 by the close of play. With just the tail to bat with keeper Vilas (59), the Essex bowlers mopped up the innings in good time at the start of day 2. Only several lusty blows from Vilas in a last wicket stand of 42 with Anderson (2*) were enough to carry Lancs to 300 and claim an extra bonus point.
In reply, Lancashire didn't cause the Eagles too many problems until the introduction of spin. Cook (45) and Chopra (0) and then Bopara (1) all fell inside two overs. Things got worse when Lawrence, intially dropped at slip 2 balls earlier, was caught at short leg for 18.
At tea Essex were 124-4 but then a solid partnership of 74 between Wheater (42) and Browne restored some hope. After 27 overs bowling, Parkinson (2-57) pulled a muscle and was forced off the field but Liam Livinstone's (4-22) part time leg spin still accounted for some victims. Lancashire took the new ball with limited success but when they returned to spin it accounted for the defiant Browne (102 off 313 balls) and the tail to hold a slender lead of 42 and miss out on a bonus points.
With the pitch wearing, Lancashire struggled to get going against left armer and former red rose overseas Neil Wagner (2-64) Jennings got in only to be bowled for 31 and the home side limped to 88-3 at tea on day 3, a lead of just 130. Chanderpaul (43) and Croft (83) added 83 during the evening session but the pitch continued to break up. Another 94 runs were added by Croft and Vilas in rapid time, and when the latter was run out for 59 Lancashire chose to declare still 20 minutes from lunch, setting Essex 290 to win in two sessions.
What should have been a risk free 9 minute period for Essex to negotiate was tarnished with a run out cause by a poor call from Cook at the none strikers end with the ball running away to a packed slip cordon. Essex attempted to keep up the scoring rate initially, but were well contained by the spin duo of Liley (3-63) and Livingstone, (3-46) enticing reckless shots from the middle order against sharp turn. At tea the score was set at 121-6, Browne (95*) once again showing his defiance. With time slipping away and Essex choosing to no longer chase down the target, Lancashire threw everything they could at the batsmen to no avail and thanks to resistance from Wagner (32*) stalled at 177-7 when the match ended.
This became Lancashire's 3rd draw of the season, but maintains a 9 point gap ahead of Essex at the top of the table.
Lancashire (11pts) drew with Essex (10pts) MOTM: Browne (102 & 95*)
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