Washington Sundar takes four on debut to put Lancashire on top

Washington Sundar marked his County Championship debut for Lancashire by taking four wickets - including one with his second ball of the day - on a sweltering opening day against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Rob Keogh and Lewis McManus both scored half-centuries to put the heat back on Lancashire's bowlers after the visitors had threatened to run through Northants' batting.

Some tight and disciplined bowling from Lancahire's attack had reduced Northants to 124 for 5 in temperatures approaching 40 degrees, Will Williams picking up two scalps.

But Keogh led the counter-attack, striking six boundaries as he passed 5,000 career runs in first-class cricket. He found a willing partner in McManus and the pair shared a 77-run partnership in 18 overs to take Northants past 200.

Lancashire made further inroads before the close as Washington finished the day with figures of 4 for 69. He removed Keogh thanks to a stunning one-handed slip catch from Luke Wells, while Tom Taylor was trapped lbw attempting a reverse-sweep.

McManus reached his fourth half-century of the season shortly before the close as.Northamptonshire finished on 218 for 7.

"I think I bowled well with some good lines, and [there were] a couple of amazing catches as well," Washington said. "I feel very good coming over here. Making my debut for Lancashire is a huge thing for me. Getting my cap in the morning from Mark [Chilton] is a great thing. The boys were really supportive. They fielded very well as well, so I'm feeling very good.

"I'm sure there's going to be a huge learning for me and I want to give back a lot for Lancashire. They've shown faith in me and I want to perform my very best and win a lot of games for them and keep them happy with a lot of good performances. I'm looking forward to understanding myself more with the red ball especially in these kinds of conditions and coming up against different a set of players with different styles.

"Obviously the conditions are quite different from what it is in India and a few other places. I'm looking forward to learning a lot about the culture with the kind of cricket that's played over here and seeing lots of different styles of batsmen and bowlers and learn more about cricket as well. I think I've brought some sun from my home!"

Earlier on a day reduced to 72 overs because of the extreme heat, Northamptonshire's top order failed to capitalise after winning the toss and deciding to bat, despite most batters getting good starts.

New red-ball captain Will Young saw off the new ball but fell cheaply for two to Washington's second delivery when the batter edged behind off an attempted cut shot.

Ricardo Vasconcelos, who stood down as captain ahead of this game, survived a scare in the first over when he edged behind, but was soon into his work, driving down the ground for four and playing through extra cover for another boundary.

He had moved onto 23 when he survived a strong appeal when Luke Wood got one to nip back. The left-arm pacer got his man in his next over though when Vasconcelos flashed loosely outside off stump and steered the ball straight to second slip. It was a testing, fiery spell either side of lunch from Wood who troubled the batters by pitching the ball up, mixed in with some well-directed short deliveries.

Emilio Gay, fresh from a century at Canterbury last week, made the most of the fast outfield with five boundaries before lunch. He also stepped down the pitch to dispatch Washington high into the Lynn Wilson Stand.

Northamptonshire went into lunch on 63 for 2 but scoring slowed considerably after the interval in the face of some disciplined Lancashire bowling which soon reaped rewards when Procter was adjudged lbw to Williams for 19, struck on the pads attempting to work a ball to leg. Williams picked up a second wicket when Gay drove loosely and Rob Jones took a sharp catch at second slip.

Keogh played positively from the outset. He got off the mark with a well-timed clip off his toes for four and although he played and missed consecutive balls from Williams, he was severe on the slow bowlers. He played a perfectly timed back-foot punch for four off Washington and then smashed two deliveries from Matt Parkinson through extra cover.

He combined with Ryan Rickleton in a stand of 43 but the South African international fell on the stroke of tea for 22 when Washington rapped him on the pads as he played back in his crease. McManus was equally aggressive against Parkinson, sweeping him for four and smashing him down the ground for two further boundaries.

But Washington duly made the breakthrough to leave Lancashire on top. McManus, who struck Wells down the ground for six in the closing overs, will be key if Northants are to try to push on towards 300 in the morning.