Lancs relegated after batters struggle at Worcester

Vitality County Championship Division One, Visit Worcestershire New Road (day three)

Worcestershire 180: Waite 60; Phillip 5-65 & 0-0:

Lancashire 177: Wells 38, Balderson 38; Waite 3-38

Worcestershire (3 pts) lead Lancashire (2 pts) by three runs

Match scorecard

Lancashire had their expected relegation to Division Two confirmed as they were bowled out for 177 at Worcester.

The Red Rose's failure to pick up any batting bonus points from New Road ensured that Warwickshire were safe.

And, once Nottinghamshire had taken three wickets in their meeting with the Bears at Trent Bridge and Worcestershire had taken the 10th wicket, that sealed Lancashire's relegation.

This is now the fourth time Lancashire have gone down since winning the title in 2011 - and their fifth since two-division cricket began in 2000.

It had all looked increasingly likely that they would go down for some weeks - especially after a record three successive innings defeats. But the end came with a whimper as they failed to collect any batting bonus points for a ninth time in this season's 14 Championship games.

Their total of 15 batting points is the second lowest in this year's top flight, ahead only of Kent, who were relegated a fortnight ago - and, to rub salt in the wound for Lancastrians, they will again swap places with promoted rivals Yorkshire - just as they previously did in 2012.

After resuming on 119-7, following Friday's washout, hosts Worcestershire eked out a further 61 runs to reach 180 - largely thanks to some hefty hitting from Matthew Waite (60), Logan van Beek (48) and also a few lusty blows from last man Jack Home on his debut.

Short-term signing Anderson Phillip finished with a 5-65, while Tom Bailey took 3-22.

Then it was down to see if the visitors could overhaul the Pears, who had already guaranteed their own safety with a game to spare and now have their sights on sealing a sixth-place finish - which would be their highest in English county cricket's two-tier era.

But Worcestershire had paceman Joe Leach, in his final match before retiring. And, fired up by a guard of honour as the Pears players came out to field, he took two of the wickets as Lancashire slumped to 30-4 either side of lunch.

Skipper Keaton Jennings was taken head high at second slip by Lancashire old boy Rob Jones off Waite before Harry Singh pushed forward to Leach and was caught behind.

Josh Bohannon attempted to work Leach to leg and was lbw, as was 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff, attempting a straight drive at Van Beek.

Wicketeeper Matty Hurst and George Bell repaired some damage with a stand of 43. But Hurst gave his wicket away when he tamely clipped Waite to mid-wicket where Home took a catch before then getting his first wicket in first-class cricket when he removed Luke Wells' middle stump for 38.

Waite picked up a third scalp when Bell missed a straight ball and was lbw before Ethan Brookes struck in his first over after tea when Bailey became another lbw victim to a delivery which cut back.

Phillip and Balderson added 56 for the ninth wicket - but it was all over when Balderson was caught low down at mid-on for 38 off Brookes, who also had Phillip (30) caught at cover.

Bad light then ended play just one over into Worcestershire’s second innings.