Good start for Lancashire

Lou Vincent hits out on his way to a brisk half-century

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Paul Horton, Stuart Law and Lou Vincent all hit half-centuries to put Lancashire in a healthy position on the opening day of their LV County Championship match against Hampshire at Old Trafford.

Hampshire debutant, Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir, claimed four wickets to salvage respectability for Division One’s bottom side, however, as the Red Rose closed on 261 for five.

Tahir, who can count England and Lancs ace Andrew Flintoff as one of his victims whilst playing for Pakistan Under-19’s, finished the day with impressive figures of 4-80 from 31 overs.

After captain Law won the toss and elected to bat first, Horton and Vincent shared an entertaining opening partnership of 110 – the county’s best for the first wicket all season.

New Zealander Vincent, who was finally out for 58 off 69 balls, led the way by battering nine fours and two sixes off Chris Tremlett and Dmitri Mascarenhas.

He reached his second four-day half-century against Hampshire in as many matches off 51 balls while Horton later recorded his seventh 50 of the campaign off 88 balls with nine fours.

Vincent was the first to go, sweeping Tahir to Michael Lumb at short fine leg in the 24th over of the day.

Horton and Iain Sutcliffe, back in for out-of-form Mal Loye, navigated the hosts through to 139 for one at lunch.

But Horton was then caught at short leg by Michael Brown off Tahir’s fifth ball after the resumption for 66. The opener had smashed the first ball of the over through mid-on for his 12th boundary.

Light rain then accounted for 12 of the day’s allotted 96 overs before Tahir picked up Sutcliffe, caught at slip by Sean Ervine, shortly after the re-start.

Law reached his fifty off 104 balls with five fours but was caught at midwicket by Brown off the bowling of David Balcombe the very next ball for 51 to leave the score 223 for four.

Tahir then bowled Steven Croft for 18 with the final ball of the day.