Dane Vilas and Steven Croft inspire Lancashire after 'shaky' start to season against Leicestershire

A fifth-wicket partnership of 130 between Dave Vilas and Blackpool's Steven Croft helped Lancashire recover from 97-4 shortly after lunch to reach 265-6 on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at Worcester.
Steven Croft strikes a boundary on his way to 63 on the opening day of Lancashire's season against LeicestershireSteven Croft strikes a boundary on his way to 63 on the opening day of Lancashire's season against Leicestershire
Steven Croft strikes a boundary on his way to 63 on the opening day of Lancashire's season against Leicestershire
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Captain Vilas led the way for the Red Rose County, hitting 14 fours in going to 90 off 126 deliveries before edging a drive off the bowling of Tom Taylor to slip, where Hassan Azad hung on to the chance. It was redemption of sorts for Azad, who failed to pick up an earlier chance given by Vilas off the same bowler when he scored just 28.

The morning had seen Leicestershire make Lancashire's batsmen work hard for their runs after Vilas had won the toss and chosen to bat.

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Both sides fielded debutants. Batsman Ben Slater, signed on two weeks' loan from Nottinghamshire, made his first start for the Foxes, while all-rounder George Balderson and bowlers Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton made their first start for Lancashire – the first time Lancashire had given three men a debut in the same match since 2002.

Taylor made an early breakthrough, trapping opener Keaton Jennings leg before wicket with a full delivery that swung back in to the left-hander.

Alex Davies and Bohannon put together a partnership of 39 for the second wicket before Davies, who had hit five boundaries in moving on to 21, mistimed a pull at a sharp delivery from left-arm seamer Dieter Klein. The ball looped towards midwicket where George Rhodes took a fine low catch two-handed to his right.

Klein then bowled Rob Jones with a quick yorker that swung back in to hit the right-hander's off-stump, and then had Josh Bohannon caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Harry Swindells, gloving an attempted pull at a short ball after playing impressively in going to 44.

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Lancashire looked to be in trouble, but Vilas led the fightback in typically belligerent style. The experienced Croft played the ideal supporting innings, but having reached his own half-century, was dismissed for 63 shortly before the close, when he went back to a delivery from off-spinner Colin Ackermann and was given out leg before wicket.

Before the game started, everyone on the ground participated in a minute's applause to pay tribute to those affected by the Covid pandemic. The players also took a knee to emphasise their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Lancashire captain Vilas said: “It was looking a bit shaky there, so it was an important partnership between myself and 'Crofty', I always enjoy batting with him, and of course it's always nice to score a few runs yourself, especially after you've won the toss and chosen to bat!

“I was very disappointed not to get to three figures, that's always the benchmark for us, but if you'd offered me a score in the 90s in my first innings of the season I'd have taken it. Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow and build a score that helps us to put them under pressure.”