Northamptonshire seamer Jack White claimed his maiden five-wicket haul for just 14 runs as Lancashire were skittled for 132 on Day 2 of this LV= County Championship match at The County Ground.
White, 30, had a late introduction to professional cricket, making his first-class debut in 2020 after coming through the Minor Counties system in Cumbria and Cumberland. He caught the eye of former Steelbacks assistant coach Phil Rowe during a highly-successful season playing grade cricket in New South Wales in 2017-18 which led to a contract at Wantage Road.
Making the most of the opportunity of his run in the Championship side this season, he set the tone against Lancashire, striking in the second over of the innings and running through their dangerous top order in 13 overs of attacking, disciplined bowling. He benefited too from humid, overcast conditions as Lancashire lost five wickets for 27 runs either side of lunch. Josh Bohannon top scored with 31.
Northamptonshire took a first innings lead of 103 and by close of play had reached 25 for one in their second dig before bad light and rain stopped play.
In the morning, Lancashire made short work of picking up the last three Northamptonshire first innings wickets for the addition of just 17 runs. Washington Sundar celebrated a five-fer on debut when he had Lewis McManus caught at deep midwicket for 61. Meanwhile Luke Wood knocked over White’s stumps and dismissed Simon Kerrigan thanks to a sensational diving catch by Rob Jones who ran across from short leg to take the ball behind the stumps..
When Lancashire batted, Northamptonshire’s seamers found plenty of movement through the air and off the pitch. White had early reward for his work, getting the ball to jag back and trap Luke Wells lbw playing back in his crease.
Keaton Jennings rode his luck early on, playing and missing against the seaming ball and edging through the slips for four. He gradually opened up his scoring options, playing some pleasant drives but fell in Simon Kerrigan’s first over, caught at slip, as he pushed at a wide delivery outside off-stump.
White was back in the wickets column immediately after lunch when Croft was trapped leg before and added a third scalp when Jones chopped on attempting to cut.
Bohannon was circumspect early in his innings, a punch through extra cover a rare sign of aggression as he navigated the seaming ball. He started to play his shots as the afternoon wore on but eventually fell to White for 31.
Washington became White’s fifth victim when he too fell lbw to leave Lancashire in all sorts of trouble at 77 for six..
Lancashire skipper Dane Vilas attempted a counterattack, attempting a few lusty blows but it was short lived as he nicked behind off Tom Taylor.
The end came quickly. Wood top edged a Ben Sanderson delivery and was caught behind, while Rob Keogh chipped in with two wickets to wrap up the innings.
When Northamptonshire batted again Vasconcelos bottom edged a short, wide ball from Will Williams to substitute keeper George Lavelle. Emilio Gay and Will Young survived against a seaming ball under dark skies to close out the day with a lead of 128.