County Championship: Harry Came leads Derbyshire’s day two response at Lancashire

Otherwise, the Derbyshire pair played with exemplary care and skill to bring their side into lunch on 65-1, with Came on 36 not out and Montgomery unbeaten on 26.

The afternoon session began in dramatic fashion with Stanley’s six-over spell from the James Anderson. Bowling at high pace and using the short-pitched ball intelligently, Stanley took only one wicket, that of Montgomery who thick-edged a drive to Coughlin in the gully when he had made 46. But he hurried Came and Guest, both of whom were probably content to watch the cricket from the bowler’s end.

Came was dropped again on 54 when Michael Jones shelled a straightforward chance at first slip off the unfortunate Coughlin but his luck ran out when he played on to James Anderson immediately after hitting the ex-England bowler for six – thanks to four overthrows. That left Derbyshire on 152-3 but Guest and Martin Andersson guided their side safely to 187 without further mishap at tea.

Umpires Jack Shantry and Sue Redfern came out to inspect the conditions immediately after tea, by which time the light had worsened. The groundstaff then brought on sheets to cover the bowlers’ run-ups in anticipation of the rain which arrived a few minutes later. Within ten minutes, the rest of the square was covered but 14 overs were bowled in bright sunlight before play finally ended at 6.35.

Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.