Bohannon's defiant unbeaten 125 ends century drought as Lancashire post first batting bonus point since May

Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, Emirates Old Trafford (day three)

Josh Bohannon made his first century of the season – and his first since June 2025 – as Lancashire's batsmen enjoyed their best day of the County Championship season since May at Emirates Old Trafford. Replying to Durham's imposing 493, built around an innings of 141 from Gay and 71 from Ben McKinney, with Lancashire's Ali claiming 6-166, the home side closed the evening session on 267-5 with Bohannon unbeaten on 125, still trailing by 226 runs.

The century was testament to Bohannon's character and determination as well as his skill. Having watched his side stumble in familiar fashion to 87-4, he and Matthew Hurst put on 161 for the fourth wicket, doing the heavy lifting that secured the county's first batting bonus point since May — an achievement greeted with ironic cheers deep in the evening session.

Scorecard: Durham 493 (Gay 141, Ben McKinney 71; Ali 6-166). Lancashire 267-5 (Josh Bohannon 125*, Matthew Hurst 57; Callum Parkinson 3-63). Lancashire (3 pts) trail Durham (5 pts) by 226 runs.

Another familiar stumble

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 Callum 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. Facing a Durham attack led by Parkinson, who finished with 3-63 from 37 overs, the home side appeared headed for yet another collapse.

The calmest hours of the season

That wicket, however, proved the prelude to a couple of the calmest hours' cricket home spectators at Old Trafford have enjoyed in 2026. Bohannon was joined by Hurst and the pair had put on an unbroken 78 runs by tea — 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, having faced 132 balls, hit three fours and batted for 153 minutes. None of those statistics, though, mattered as much as 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.

Hurst falls to a beauty, but no further damage

Hurst was eventually 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.

Relief — but a record low still awaits

There was comfort of a sort for Lancashire from elsewhere in the division: Gloucestershire's defeat to Kent, who celebrated promotion with the victory, ensured the Red Rose would not finish bottom of the table. Lancashire will, though, still finish 17th for the first time in their history. Elsewhere, Warwickshire's Bears beat Leicestershire to secure a ninth title.