Lancashire's Gary Keedy puts brake on Worcestershire after Solanki century

Gary Keedy spun an intriguing match back in Lancashire's favour by taking three late wickets including the prize scalp of Vikram Solanki for a high-class hundred. Solanki was threatening to steer Worcestershire towards a win that would be as precious in their battle to avoid relegation as a defeat would be demoralising to Lancashire's title dreams. But shortly after he reached three figures, Keedy had him edging to slip for a classic left-armer's dismissal. The Yorkshireman had already dismissed Moeen Ali to break a third-wicket stand of 91 with Solanki shortly before the drizzle that had been falling since tea grew heavy enough to force a stoppage in the evening session. He then had Alex Kervezee caught in fortuitous fashion as his sweep lobbed up off the pads of the wicketkeeper Gareth Cross to Steven Croft at short leg. Keedy is expected to join Warwickshire next season as Lancashire are reluctant to award a two-year contract to the 36-year-old because they want to provide more first-team chances for their promising young left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan. He would love nothing more than signing off with the Championship title for which he has been striving for 17 seasons, and which has famously eluded the county since 1934. However, Worcestershire retain a live chance, needing another 126 with five wickets remaining, and Gareth Andrew and Ben Scott, each of whom passed 50 in the first innings, still to bat. The pitch is still offering movement and occasional variable bounce to the Lancashire seamers, as well as slow turn for Keedy, but it was the visiting bowlers who did the most damage on day three. Andrew took three of the first four wickets to fall to complete his first five-for of the season, and Richard Jones chipped in with three of the last four. Lancashire, having started the day with a lead of 247, lost their last seven wickets for 64 in 16 overs, with only Karl Brown showing the technique to offer prolonged resistance before he was last out 15 short of a century. Worcestershire then lost Matt Pardoe cheaply to Glen Chapple, and the Lancashire captain struck once again when he switched ends to have Daryl Mitchell lbw. However Solanki had the locals distinctly twitchy until Keedy soothed their nerves late on.