Worcestershire 98 (Anderson 4-24, Onions 4-55) v Lancashire
Lancashire new ball duo James Anderson and Graham Onions inflicted more misery on Worcestershire, who were bowled out for 98 on a rain-hit opening day in the Specsavers County Championship match at Blackfinch New Road.
Anderson and Onions had been the destroyer in chiefs last month in reducing Worcestershire to 38 for 7 on the opening day of the match at Emirates Old Trafford, which Lancashire won by six wickets.
It was the same story on Monday as Anderson, who took 4 for 24 off 14.1 overs, and Onions, who contributed 4 for 55 off 14, were largely responsible for the home side being skittled in just 38.1 overs with some top-class bowling.
Saqib Mahmood, taking 2 for 8 off his eight overs, ensured there was no let-up in the current Division Two leaders’ dominance of proceedings after they had opted to bowl under leaden skies.
Ed Barnard, who was promoted to No. 6, offered the most resistance with a defiant 32 as Worcestershire were dismissed for the second-lowest total in the Championship this summer. Only Nottinghamshire, with 97 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston last week, had been bowled out for a lower total during 2019.
Worcestershire had rejigged their batting line-up with Tom Fell and George Rhodes left out of the side and Josh Dell brought back to open the innings. But they were unable to combat England star Anderson and Onions before the heavens opened once the players had players left the field shortly after 2.30pm local time.
Lancashire unsurprisingly opted to bowl and Onions and Anderson were soon among the wickets on the same pitch used for the ODI match between England Women and West Indies Women the previous day.
Onions was first to strike as opener Daryl Mitchell nicked an away swinger through to keeper and skipper Dane Vilas and then Callum Ferguson was trapped lbw for just one.
Riki Wessels also went leg before to Anderson and it became 24 for 4 when Ross Whiteley tried to work him through mid-wicket and was caught off a leading edge by Haseeb Hameed at cover point.
Dell, who hit 61 on his Championship debut against Durham, battled away to make 18 in 18 overs in the opening role but shouldered arms to Mahmood and was bowled.
Barnard brought up the Worcestershire fifty with a cover drive for four of Onions in the 20th over. But it became 57 for 6 when red ball vice-captain Ben Cox went for a drive and was caught behind off Mahmood.
The procession of wickets continued in the afternoon session. Fit-again Wayne Parnell drove at Onions and was bowled and club captain Joe Leach aimed to work the ball on the leg side and suffered the same fate.
Anderson wrapped up proceedings as Charlie Morris and Barnard were both safely pouched by Vilas – the latter after attempting a ramp shot.
There was no chance for Lancashire to launch their reply before rain intervened and play was called off for the day at 4.35pm.