Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings, fresh from his disappointment at missing out on England’s Test tour to India, made a strong start to his Vitality County Championship campaign with a half-century against Hampshire.
Jennings, who impressed as part of the England Lions squad supporting the Test team in the sub-continent this winter, was not considered for the main event, with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley remaining Ben Stokes’ and Brendon McCullum’s preferred opening pair.
However, he showed his class with a composed 85 not out, with only one dropped catch as a blemish in an otherwise authoritative innings. His opening partner Luke Wells also impressed with 55, as Lancashire ended the day on 233 for four, 134 runs behind Hampshire’s first innings total.
Having bowled the hosts out for 367, Wells and Jennings made hay in good batting conditions. Mohammad Abbas’ battle with Wells was intriguing, with the Pakistan fast bowler sending down 16 challenging dot-balls before the batter could manoeuvre himself off strike.
Wells then slowly put himself on top of the home side’s bowling attack to rush towards his first half-century of the season. He found straight driving particularly profitable, reaching the milestone in just 65 balls.
Wells fell for 55, ending an 87-run partnership, but Jennings continued to impress, reaching his 57th first-class half-century in 122 balls. He was dropped at point on 36 by Nick Gubbins, who lost his trousers in the process.
Josh Bohannon made 30 before chopping James Fuller onto his own stumps, but Jennings then teamed up with George Balderson in an 86-run stand. Balderson was eventually dismissed for 38, and Tom Bruce was brilliantly caught at first slip by Liam Dawson to give Holland two wickets in two balls.
George Bell narrowly avoided edging the hat-trick ball and survived to the close with Jennings.
Earlier, Hampshire added 62 runs to their overnight score, with Dawson going on to make 86, Ian Holland 45, and James Fuller 38. Nathan Lyon completed the innings when Kyle Abbott was caught at long-on by Jennings, ending with three for 110 from 38.1 overs.
