Kendal’s Louis Backhouse had a satisfactory debut for Lancashire Seconds this week but the Red Rose county was well beaten by Middlesex Seconds at Liverpool.
Backhouse, 24, took 5-91 from 18 overs on the first day before Middlesex were bowled out on the second morning for 509.
It proved too big a score for Lancashire to make a contest of and after being bowled out for 171 in their first innings they succumbed for 261 in the second.
Both sides can name 12 players for the games at Second X1 level and, in fact, Backhouse didn’t get a bat in the first innings.
But he did get a chance second time round and, like his bowling, he certainly left an impression.
He thumped five sixes, all of them off a suffering Josh de Caires, in an entertaining 23-ball assault of 34 as the last two wickets added 65 runs. Corey Flintoff hit a further six, also off poor de Caires, son of ex England captain Michael Atherton, in finishing unbeaten on 25.
Fittingly it was Thilan Walallawita, the left arm spinner, who had the final say, finishing with figures of five for 44 when he had Backhouse caught at deep midwicket attempting another big hit with Lancashire all out for 296 and Middlesex clinching a convincing win inside three days.
