Andre Adams enjoyed a fine day as Nottinghamshire dominated the first day of their LV= Division One match against Lancashire at Liverpool.
The experienced Kiwi, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Thursday, took 4-45 and clung on to a couple of fine catches as Glen Chapple’s men were dismissed for 225 in 69.2 overs. He then watched from the venerable Aigburth pavilion as Nottinghamshire’s top order batsmen replied with 69 for one by close of play.
In the morning session the visiting seamers made good use of the opportunity of bowl first on a helpful Aigburth pitch and reduced Lancashire to 45 for four inside 19 overs.
Andrea Agathangelou, surprisingly preferred to Alex Davies as opener, was the first to go, caught by wicketkeeper Chris Read off Luke Fletcher for 11. Five overs later Usman Khawaja’s uncertain 15-ball innings was ended when Andre Adams induced a leading edge and Steven Mullaney’s catch in the gully sent the Australian Test batsman back to the pavilion for a duck.
Paul Horton had defied Read’s attack for 73 minutes in scoring 17 when left-arm seamer Harry Gurney pushed one across him and Read pouched the edge. Five balls later the impressive Adams squared Ashwell Prince up and fourth slip Mullaney scooped up a good catch.
Steven Croft and Jos Buttler saw their side to 81 for four without further loss although Croft should have been caught by Samit Patel for three when he edged a chance off Adams.
The Lancashire pair’s enterprising strokeplay dominated the play immediately after lunch and the fifth-wicket stand was worth 80 when Croft’s tentative push to Fletcher only gave a straightforward catch to Alex Hales at second slip.
Meanwhile, Buttler’s clean hitting had offered encouragement to the home supporters but the former Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman was dismissed the ball after reaching his 83-ball fifty when he carelessly drove Gurney to Adams at mid off.
By now the Aigburth wicket was easing a little and Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple made good use of the easing conditions by making a cleanly-struck 38 which included a fine straight six off Patel. However, the slow left-armer exacted his revenge four overs later when Chapple clipped him to James Taylor at mid-wicket.
After going into tea on 212 for seven Lancashire lost their last three wickets for 13 runs in 5.2 overs after the resumption. Peter Siddle had Hogg well caught one-handed by a diving Adams at mid-off and the 38-year-old completing his fine day by removing Smith for 32 and Kerrigan for a duck.
Nottinghamshire openers Mullaney and Hales began their side’s reply by putting on 20 before Hales was plumb lbw to Kyle Hogg for eight in the tenth over of the innings. However, Mullaney and Michael Lumb steered their side into a very strong position at the close, although Lancashire’s fielders had only themselves to blame as they dropped Mullaney three times in his innings of 48 not out.
Kabir Ali, Horton and Hogg were the offending fielders and Chapple’s men probably know that they cannot afford any more such errors if they are to prevent Read’s title-chasing team building a significant first-innings lead.