Resuming on ten without loss, Lancashire scored only 66 runs and lost three wickets in 32 overs during the morning session.

And the manner of the dismissals epitomised the county’s travails with the bat this season. Having made 17 in 110 minutes Keaton Jennings swept Parkinson to Shaf Ghafari at deep square leg; two overs later, fine work by Ben McKinney and Parkinson ran out Michael Jones for 11 after the opener had dithered over a quick single with Bohannon.

A third wicket was wasted when Marcus Harris swung Parkinson to Ghafari at deep midwicket and departed for 11.

A quarter of an hour into the afternoon session, Rocky Flintoff was pinned plumb in front by Brydon Carse for 11 to leave the Red Rose in trouble yet again this season on 87-4. However, that wicket was the prelude to a couple of the calmest hours’ cricket home spectators at Old Trafford have enjoyed in 2026.

Bohannon was joined by Matty Hurst and the pair had put on an unbroken 78 runs by tea. The afternoon’s cricket was a notable contrast to many of the sessions Lancashire supporters have suffered this year.

Bohannon reached his first fifty since 10 April when he took a single off Ghafari. He had faced 132 balls, hit three fours and batted for 153 minutes but none of those statistics mattered when set against his determined personal achievement in ending a dismal run of form.

After tea, Bohannon and Hurst brought up their hundred partnership, which was only Lancashire’s second century stand in Championship cricket since April.

Bohannon reached his century with a leg glance off Kasey Aldridge after facing 217 balls and batting 254 minutes. It was his seventh boundary and he raised his bat to all the stands at Old Trafford.

However, Hurst was bowled for 57 by a ball from Parkinson that turned prodigiously from outside leg stump before hitting the top of off.

But Walkden joined Bohannon and ensured the home side would suffer no further losses on the day when Gloucestershire’s defeat to Kent ensured they would not finish bottom of the table.

Lancashire will, though, finish 17th for the first time in their history.

ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay.