Lancashire continue to pile on the runs

The visitors reached lunch on 390 for seven, with Caribbean run-machine Shivnarine Chanderpaul still at the crease, albeit with a limp, unbeaten with 133.

Resuming on their overnight score of 294 for six, Lancashire’s seventh-wicket partners Chanderpaul and Clark showed no signs of letting up in terms of concentration and run-scoring.

Neither appeared in any trouble in the opening hour as Chanderpaul moved to 97 by glancing and pulling successive boundaries against Tom Curran. He reached the 74th first-class century of his career after almost five hours at the crease with a glance to backward square leg against Mark Footitt. The left-hander had already faced 213 balls and hit 15 fours.

Soon after Clark battered Footitt to the ropes at extra cover to raise their 200 stand and beat Lancashire’s previous seventh-wicket record against the brown caps of 198, set by Alexander Eccles and John I’Anson at Old Trafford in 1902.

The stand had reached 243, and was only five short of equalling the red rose county’s seventh-wicket partnership in first-class cricket when Clark, on 140, aimed to sweep against Gareth Batty only to be caught at slip by Rory Burns. The young right-hander faced 212 balls and hit 23 fours and three sixes.

Moments later Chanderpaul pulled up quickly after running a third into the deep and, after receiving extensive treatment to a thigh injury, called on Luke Procter to act as his runner.