Lancs relegated after batters struggle at Worcester

Vitality County Championship Division One, Visit Worcestershire New Road (day three)

Worcestershire 180: Waite 60; Phillip 5-65 & 0-0:

Lancashire 177: Wells 38, Balderson 38; Waite 3-38

Worcestershire (3 pts) lead Lancashire (2 pts) by 3 runs

Match scorecard

Lancashire had their expected relegation to Division Two confirmed arsenic they were bowled retired for 177 astatine Worcester.

The Red Rose's nonaccomplishment to prime up immoderate batting prize points from New Road ensured that Warwickshire were safe.

And, erstwhile Nottinghamshire had taken 3 wickets successful their gathering pinch nan Bears astatine Trent Bridge and Worcestershire had taken nan 10th wicket, that sealed Lancashire's relegation.

This is now nan 4th clip Lancashire person gone down since winning nan title successful 2011 - and their 5th since two-division cricket began successful 2000.

It had each looked progressively apt that they would spell down for immoderate weeks - particularly aft a grounds 3 successive innings defeats. But nan extremity came pinch a whimper arsenic they grounded to cod immoderate batting prize points for a ninth clip successful this season's 14 Championship games.

Their full of 15 batting points is nan 2nd lowest successful this year's apical flight, up only of Kent, who were relegated a fortnight agone - and, to swipe brackish successful nan coiled for Lancastrians, they will again switch places pinch promoted rivals Yorkshire - conscionable arsenic they antecedently did successful 2012.

After resuming connected 119-7, pursuing Friday's washout, hosts Worcestershire eked retired a further 61 runs to scope 180 - mostly acknowledgment to immoderate hefty hitting from Matthew Waite (60), Logan van Beek (48) and besides a fewer lusty blows from past man Jack Home connected his debut.

Short-term signing Anderson Phillip vanished pinch a 5-65, while Tom Bailey took 3-22.

Then it was down to spot if nan visitors could overhaul nan Pears, who had already guaranteed their ain information pinch a crippled to spare and now person their sights connected sealing a sixth-place decorativeness - which would beryllium their highest successful English region cricket's two-tier era.

But Worcestershire had paceman Joe Leach, successful his last lucifer earlier retiring. And, fired up by a defender of honour arsenic nan Pears players came retired to field, he took 2 of nan wickets arsenic Lancashire slumped to 30-4 either broadside of lunch.

Skipper Keaton Jennings was taken caput precocious astatine 2nd gaffe by Lancashire aged boy Rob Jones disconnected Waite earlier Harry Singh pushed guardant to Leach and was caught behind.

Josh Bohannon attempted to activity Leach to limb and was lbw, arsenic was 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff, attempting a consecutive thrust astatine Van Beek.

Wicketeeper Matty Hurst and George Bell repaired immoderate harm pinch a guidelines of 43. But Hurst gave his wicket distant erstwhile he tamely clipped Waite to mid-wicket wherever Home took a drawback earlier past getting his first wicket successful first-class cricket erstwhile he removed Luke Wells' mediate stump for 38.

Waite picked up a 3rd scalp erstwhile Bell missed a consecutive shot and was lbw earlier Ethan Brookes struck successful his first complete aft beverage erstwhile Bailey became different lbw unfortunate to a transportation which trim back.

Phillip and Balderson added 56 for nan ninth wicket - but it was each complete erstwhile Balderson was caught debased down astatine mid-on for 38 disconnected Brookes, who besides had Phillip (30) caught astatine cover.

Bad ray past ended play conscionable 1 complete into Worcestershire’s 2nd innings.