A stunning spell from the peerless, ageless James Anderson propelled Lancashire to an unlikely first win of the season and the 43-year-old to the top of the County Championship wicket-taking table.
It has been a bruising start to the season for Lancashire, who drew their opening match when Northamptonshire’s last pair batted out almost 16 overs to survive nine down at Wantage Road.
The club are also facing a revolt from a group of legendary former players, who believe the board prioritises commerce over cricket. Two special general meetings last week added to the disquiet.
A few days on, the scene was much happier at Old Trafford, with Anderson whipping off the bails to run out Zak Chappell in farcical fashion and complete a 29-run win over Derbyshire, who were bowled out for 108.
The win looked unlikely at so many points, not least when Derbyshire took lunch on day four on 52 for three, needing just 86 to win. While many men of his vintage like a post-lunch kip, Anderson brought himself back into the attack, and promptly produced a double-wicket maiden to start a spell of four for seven, plus the match-sealing run-out. And to cap off a near-perfect day for the Red Rose county, on the other side of the Pennines, Yorkshire fell to a dismal defeat by Hampshire.
After making 351 in their first innings, Lancashire had stuttered along in this match. Derbyshire responded with 374, and by the time Lancashire were back in front, they had lost five wickets. Even after Marcus Harris led a strong fightback, they contrived to lose their last four for just 13, setting Derbyshire only 138.
But they have Anderson in their ranks. He now has 14 wickets this season, more than any other Championship bowler this season, each of them celebrated with as much vim and vigour as ever. “In those situations, you’ve just got to keep running in and keep believing that something’s going to happen,” he said afterwards.
Yorkshire now have a week off, and will have some soul-searching to do as they sit bottom of Division One after their 214-run loss. Their coach, Anthony McGrath, did not mince his words, saying the “warning signs” of this defeat had been there in a near-miss against Glamorgan.
“With bat and ball we’re way, way short, which is very, very disappointing,” he said. “If I were a supporter watching that, I’d be thinking, ‘What the hell have these guys been doing for the last six months because it looks like we’ve just forgotten how to play?’”
McGrath promised changes for Yorkshire’s next match, on April 24, when Joe Root will return, and Jonny Bairstow is expected to be fit again too. The bad news for Yorkshire is that they are playing Sussex, who are the only side in the country to have won their first two matches after a thrilling victory over Warwickshire.
A tense final day appeared likely, but two of Sussex’s new signings, centurion Jack Leaning and Tom Price, shared an unbeaten stand of 144 to secure a five-wicket win.
After overspending, Sussex are under special measures with the England and Wales Cricket Board, and face the breakup of a strong squad at the end of this season. But they have overcome the 12-point deduction they faced for their financial issues, and sit behind only Somerset and Nottinghamshire at the top of Division One.
At the Oval, runs for Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope helped Surrey avert brief fears of defeat by Leicestershire in a high-scoring draw.
Champions Nottinghamshire recorded their first win of the season, seeing off Glamorgan by 192 runs.