Burns near-century carries Surrey but Jarvis-inspired Lancashire on top at Old Trafford

Stumps, Day One: Lancashire 16-0 trail Surrey 191 (Burns 92; Jarvis 6-70) by 175 runs, at Emirates Old Trafford

On a day of changeable weather at Old Trafford, there were two men who grabbed the headlines. Kyle Jarvis shone for Lancashire with outstanding figures of 6-70 to put his side firmly control after day one. They could however have been out of sight were it not for the one-man rear-guard from Surrey opener Rory Burns.

His 92 was an impressive solo effort in an otherwise below-par Surrey batting display, as Lancashire continued their superb home form this campaign.

In a season where much focus has been on the toss, or often lack of it, Lancashire are continuing to make visiting captains look rather foolish.

There have been three games at Old Trafford this season, and on all three occasions the visiting side has elected to toss, won it and batted first. Nottinghamshire found themselves 73-4 at lunch, Hampshire 57-5 and, in reasonable conditions on Day One, Surrey were reduced to 76-5 at the interval having been 20-3.

The two previous matches here Lancashire clinched resounding victories and, with another superb bowling display before lunch, put themselves in a great position to maintain their 100% home record. Surrey were were reeling at the interval.

It positively lashed it down during the lunch break and wiped out almost a couple of hours of the afternoon session. The weather threatened to halt the Lancashire charge, as did a doggedly impressive 50-run stand between Burns and James Burke.

Jarvis returned shortly after the resumption to ensure that Lancashire were on the front foot once again. Two wickets in quick succession took his personal tally to six wickets, only the third time he has achieved such a feat in his career.

The right-arm seamer was magnificent throughout the day. His four wickets in the morning session were earned through excellent deliveries – Surrey batsmen couldn’t be accused of giving their wickets away.

Not even the imperious Kumar Sangakkara was immune to Jarvis’ spell, dismissed for a duck on his fourth delivery by an in-swinger that looked to be hitting halfway up middle.

When the partnership between Burns and Burke looked like ruining Lancashire’s early work, Jarvis was at it again, getting Burke caught at slip before forcing Tom Curran to edge behind.

But Surrey will have been pleased to reach their eventual total of 191. While it was well below what they would have hoped for having won the toss, from 20-3 it was a solid recovery.

It was thanks, almost entirely, to the performance of Burns, who nearly managed to achieve the rare feat of carrying his bat. While his early partners came and went in a flash, Burns dug in. When 26-4 became 40-5, after Jason Roy and Ben Foakes came and went, Surrey needed a partnership and Burns ensured they got one.

In fact he ensured they got two. After his stand of 64 with Burke for the sixth wicket was ended, Burns proceeded to reach his own half-century from 123 balls and then added another 50 stand with Gareth Batty for the eighth wicket.

They had pushed the score on to 182-7 and were nearing the realms of a decent first day total. But Neil Wagner, who had been previously wayward, joined the party for Lancashire and cleaned up the tail. Batty was well caught at slip, Mathew Pillans had his stumps rearranged before finally Burns’ resistance was ended.

The opener was the final wicket to fall as Wagner trapped him lbw after contributing 92 of Surrey’s total of 191.

It was virtually a one-man show and the visitors will have been immensely frustrated at their inability to support him from the other end.

Lancashire were left with 12 overs to bat at the end of the day, with Tom Smith making his first Championship appearance since April last year and four months after back surgery. He opened the batting alongside Haseeb Hameed and the pair batted to the close, ending on 16-0.

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