'Character' call from batting coach Sadler as Northants aim to recover from bad day at Old Trafford

John Sadler has called on the Northants players to 'show some character' and fight their way back into their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Lancashire.
Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson claimed three wickets for LancashireLeg-spinner Matt Parkinson claimed three wickets for Lancashire
Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson claimed three wickets for Lancashire

The County endured a difficult day two at Old Trafford, and will go into Saturday trailing the Red Rose by 188 runs, with the home side still having 10 wickets intact.

Replying to Lancashire's first innings of 305, Northants slumped to 85 for eight before an 82-run ninth-wicket partnership between Adam Rossington who top-scored with 49, and Simon Kerrigan (45no) lifted them to 177 all out.

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That was a deficit of 128, and with Lancashire openers Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies easing their team to 60 without loss at the close, the County have it all to do.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson and seamer Tom Bailey did the bulk of the damage for the home side as they claimed three wickets apiece.

Parkinson's dismissal of Rossington was an extraordinary one, and is being compared to Shane Warne's 'ball of the century' to dismiss Mike Gatting in an Ashes Test on the same ground in 1993.

The ball pitched outside leg but spun sharply to beat Rossington's defensive shot and clip the top of off stump.

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There was also two for Saqib Mahmood, with Rob Keogh's 29 the next best score after Rossington and Kerrigan.

It is not looking very encouraging for Northants, but batting coach Sadler believes all is not yet lost.

"Credit to Lancashire - they bowled beautifully," said Sadler.

"What a beauty that ball was (to Rossington) and fair play to Matt Parkinson - he bowled beautifully throughout and as he got into his spell he seemed to find a little bit more from the pitch.

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"There's still a lot to fight for and although we're behind the eight ball at the moment we've got to come back tomorrow and show some character.

"It's a great pitch and there are runs out there if you just soak up a bit of pressure and get a bit of luck.

"We're not too down and we'll come back tomorrow and crack on."

For Northants, both Kerrigan and Tom Taylor ended with four wickets apiece..