Red Rose in control as Salt hits century

PHIL HITS FIRST 100 FOR LANCS TO KEEP HIS SIDE IN CONTROL

LANCASHIRE still hold the upper hand after two days of this LV= Insurance County Championship match at Southport, leading by 113 runs as they hunt a first red ball victory this season, but Hampshire fought back hard after a poor first day to keep their hopes alive.

The visitors were indebted to a career-best six wicket haul by Felix Organ after Phil Salt had struck his first century for Lancashire with Daryl Mitchell and George Bell contributing significantly to the hosts first innings 374 to give the home side a huge 232-run lead.

A determined unbeaten second wicket partnership between Fletcha Middleton (44 not out) and Nick Gubbins (45 not out) then helped take 95 runs off that advantage as Hampshire closed on 119 for one in their second innings, but with a lot of work still to do if they are to turn this match around.