Bell hits career-best but Middlesex hold out for a draw
George Bell hit a career-best 91 as Lancashire did their best to force a result in this rain-hit LV= Insurance County Championship match but Middlesex produced a much better effort with the bat in their second innings to force a draw.
With 118 overs lost to the weather, a draw was probably the most likely outcome, but Lancashire produced a great effort with the bat during the morning to keep the outcome in doubt until late in the afternoon.
There was a nice moment when Dane Vilas rang the pavilion bell before the start of play and then later received a guard of honour from the playing and coaching staff when Lancashire took to the field to mark his final day in a Red Rose shirt.
And fittingly it was Bell, one of the players who made his debut under Vilas’ captaincy, that led Lancashire’s early morning charge for quick runs.
Resuming on 331 for five, Bell went past his previous best score by guiding Ryan Higgins to the vacant third man boundary to get the scoreboard moving.
Batting in tandem with George Balderson the pair plundered four boundaries from the first two overs to force Middlesex onto the back foot and setting defensive fields to stem the run scoring.
Balderson fell for 12 edging behind off Higgins but Tom Hartley gave great support to Bell as the pair added 39 off 40 balls with some excellent running and positive stroke play.
After steering the Lancashire total past 400 and the lead beyond 200, both fell in identical fashion; stumped advancing down the wicket attempting to hit off spinner Jayant Yadav, Hartley for 22 and Bell, agonisingly just short of a maiden century, for 91.
Luke Wood was bowled by Ethan Bamber for 2 and Jayant finished with a five-wicket haul after bowling Tom Bailey for 6 with Lancashire all out for 413 and leading by 219 runs.
And Bailey struck early in the Middlesex innings squaring up Sam Robson to have the opener, who had batted so well in the first innings, caught for 6 at third slip by Will Williams.
Mark Stoneman and Joe Cracknell reached lunch safely on 35 for one, but Stoneman departed soon after the break when lbw for 17 in Hartley’s second over.
The left arm spinner picked up a second wicket by having Cracknell trapped in front for 33 to leave the visitors on 71-3 and with 52 overs still to negotiate.
A dogged effort by Jack Davies and Stephen Eskinazi – a replacement for concussion injured Max Holden - saw them safely through the rest of the day.
Davies reached a maiden first-class fifty to finish unbeaten on 65 with Eskinazi 26 not out when the players shook hands on the draw at 4.40pm.
There was a final farewell for Dane Vilas who waved his cap in appreciation of the standing ovation from all sides of the ground.
George Bell admitted to some frustration after another drawn game at Emirates Old Trafford.
“It’s been like that at most home games where we’ve tried to force something,” he said.
“Today we tried to force runs to set up a target that allowed us to bowl them out again.
“The bowlers gave it everything and you can’t fault their efforts. It was a very good pitch and they played very well.
“We were doing everything we can to try and win. There wasn’t much else we could have thrown at them.
“We were changing fields, Keats is coming up with ideas about how to try and get them out on a pitch where they’re not playing too many shots, can just sit in and take what they get.
“It’s tough for us to create something when they are doing that. If we create that chance and take it, the next batter does the same and it’s very difficult for us to really force something.
“Regardless, everyone’s put their whole effort in today and it’s a shame we couldn’t do it.”
Bell was philosophical about missing out on a maiden century.
“It was disappointing to not make three figures, I must admit,” he said. “I did really want to get there. But we were trying to push on and you’ve got to think about the team and not be selfish about getting out playing a shot.
“I’m happy to have got some runs in red ball cricket. I’ve had a lot of opportunity this year and it’s nice to repay that and get a few runs.”
And Bell paid tribute to Dane Vilas on his farewell match.
“Dane was the captain I made my debut under,” he said. “So he’s been a presence in my whole career at Lancs so far.
“He’s given me so much advice with regard to wicketkeeping, batting, and it’s great to learn from someone like that.
“He’s such a great man. Everything he does, it’s done with one hundred per cent effort.
“You’ve got to try and take something on board with that.”
Bell experienced a nervy moment however, Vilas having to dive to get back in the crease at the bowler’s after being sent back when close to his hundred.
“I sent him back and was thinking ‘oh my god I’ve run him out on 93’, he confessed.
“I was really glad to be out there when he got his hundred. Getting a hundred in your last match at Emirates Old Trafford is like a fairly-tale moment.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Barry Mitchell, Luke Adams, Dan Adams
