COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Old Trafford:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Lancashire 181 & 22-2, Durham 237
Lancashire, 3pts, Durham 4pts
Match scorecard

Keedy was playing only his second game of the season

A career-best bowling display from Lancashire's Gary Keedy could not prevent Durham taking the upper hand on day two at Old Trafford.

Keedy's impressive 7-62 helped bowl the visitors out for 237 but that still gave them a first innings lead of 56.

Earlier in the day, Ian Blackwell (5-78) and Steve Harmison each took three wickets as Lancashire slumped from 131-4 to 181 all out.

And they lost two early second innings wickets before finishing on 22-2.

Lancashire would have hoped for more than 50 runs from their last six wickets but the rot set in when Blackwell trapped Gareth Cross lbw with the third ball of the day.

Sajid Mahmood was the only tail-ender to offer any resistance as Lancashire collapsed but he was eventually dismissed lbw by Harmison (3-27).

Defending an undaunting total, Lancashire made early inroads into the Durham order, reducing them to 41-3 as Keedy's left-arm spin caused problems.

But Blackwell increased his impact on the game with an entertaining 65 from just 67 balls to help the visitors recover.

Keedy, playing only his second game of the season following a broken collarbone, eventually removed Blackwell's stumps and he continued to be Lancashire's chief threat.

When he bowled Liam Plunkett to end Durham's reply the 35-year-old had surpassed his previous best figures of 7-95 against Gloucestershire in 2004.

His effort kept Lancashire in touching distance but batting continued to be a trial and they were soon in trouble at 10-2 with Paul Horton and Tom Smith back in the pavilion.

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