Anderson blunted on final day as Lancs must settle for honours even

JOE Clarke made his fourth century of the season and blunted the threat posed by Lancashire's James Anderson to ensure that Nottinghamshire drew their Vitality County Championship match with the Red Rose at Southport.

Clarke passed 50 for the seventh time in 14 first-class innings this season and had put on an unbroken 136 for the fifth wicket with Lyndon James to steer the visitors to 270 for four when the players shook hands at 4.50 with James unbeaten on 43 and Clarke on 115 not out, bringing his first-class aggregate for the season to 795.

By contrast to his astonishing spell on Tuesday morning, Anderson had figures of one for 25 from 11 overs in two spells on the final day at Southport but the eight points the sides collect for the draw enable both of them to pull a little further away from Division One's relegation zone.

Anderson took his only wicket of the second innings with his 17th ball of the day when Will Young pushed a trifle tentatively forward and edged a catch to Matthew Hurst.