LIVE BLOG: Lancashire v Middlesex, Day Four
Latest news from the fourth day of the LV= County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.
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4.40pm, MATCH DRAWN
Middlesex 2nd inns 160-3, Davies 65 Eskinazi 26.
The players shake hands on the draw, and that's a maiden first-class half century for Jack Davies.
But it's Dane Vilas who takes centre stage, standing in the middle and waving his cap to acknowledge a standing ovation from all sides of the ground.
4.20pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 140-3, Davies 55 Eskinazi 16 trail by 79 runs.
Lancashire have not been able to make a breakthrough since tea and with 19 overs left this game looks increasingly like ending in a draw.
3.40pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 111-3, Davies 34 Eskinazi 8 trail by 108 runs.
Tom Hartley and Tom Bailey, who is bowling off spin, take the ball as we start the final session of the match.
As you would expect there is an in-out field with slip, leg slip and short leg in close attendance.
3.10pm, TEA Day 4
Middlesex 2nd inns 106-3, Davies 29 Eskinazi 8 trail by 113 runs
After their batting woes in the first innings (and this season in general), Middlesex have done well and fought hard to stay in this game.
Lancashire have a minimum of 36 overs to find a way to take seven wickets after tea.
2.55pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 96-3, Davies 22 Eskinazi 5 trail by 123 runs
Tom Hartley and Luke Wood are working hard to try and create chances but Davies and Eskinazi are batting with great determination as we head towards tea.
It has clearly been a much better effort by the Middlesex top order this time around, and the closest we have come to a fourth wicket was an a big lbw shout by Hartley against Davies.
2.40pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 91-3, Davies 21 Eskinazi 1 trail by 129 runs
Tom Hartley has bowled a lovely spell of 2-23 from the James Anderson end with Luke Wood running in hard from the Brian Statham end.
Concussion replacement batter Steven Eskinazi has joined Jack Davies in the middle as Middlesex chip away at the runs deficit, now down to 128.
2.15pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 71-3, Davies 10 Eskinazi 0 trail by 148 runs
Tom Hartley strikes again!
The Red Rose left arm spinner has Joe Cracknell lbw for 33
1.45pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 50-2, Cracknell 22 Davies 4 trail by 169 runs
Tom Hartley is into his second over and has made an immediate impact trapping Mark Stoneman lbw for 17.
Goodness, Jack Davies edges his first ball past first slip for four. Tough chance and a close call for the left-handed bat.
1.20pm
Middlesex 2nd inns 38-1, Stoneman 17 Cracknell 14 trail by 181 runs
Three runs have been scored since play resumed after lunch, all to Joe Cracknell.
Luke Wood and Tom Bailey are sharing bowling duties for the start of the afternoon session where we so far have bowled 3 of the 68 remaining overs .
12.30pm, LUNCH Day 4
Middlesex 2nd inns 35-1, Stoneman 17 Cracknell 11 trail by 184 runs
No further success for the Red Rose attack before lunch.
Joe Cracknell had a narrow escape, inside edging Will Williams for four at the start of his innings, but the visitors will be delighted to be just one wicket down at the break.
11.55am
Middlesex 2nd inns 14-1, Stoneman 7 Cracknell 0 trail by 205 runs
Sam Robson is squared up by Tom Bailey who extracts a little bit of extra bounce and is caught at third slip by Will Williams.
That's a great start for Lancs, Robson batted so well in the first innings and he's gone for 5.
11.55am
Middlesex 2nd inns 11-0, Stoneman 6 Robson 5 trail by 208 runs
Dane Vilas received a Guard of Honour from his team-mates at the start of the innings.
Now it's down to the serious business of getting ten wickets.
Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman have a boundary apiece as Lancashire have set very attacking fields for Tom Bailey and Will Williams.
11.33am
Lancashire 1st inns 413 all out (102.2 overs) lead by 219 runs
Luke Wood is bowled by Ethan Bamber for 2 and Lancashire have a minimum of 80 overs to force a result, leading by 219 runs.
11.28am
Lancashire 1st inns 411-9 (101.5 overs) Wood 1 Williams 0 lead by 217 runs
Well that was quick.
Tom Bailey hit a 4, a 2 and missed the third ball from Jayant to be bowled for 6.
11.26am
Lancashire 1st inns 405-8 (101.2 overs) Wood 1 Bailey 0 lead by 211 runs
Oh no! George Bell also goes stumped trying to hit Jayant in the general direction of Stretford and he is out for a career-best 91 - what a shame he didn't get to his century.
11.18am
Lancashire 1st inns 403-7 (100 overs) Bell 90 Wood 1 lead by 209 runs
Tom Hartley's positive innings of 22 comes to an end after he goes down the wicket to spinner Jayant Yadav and is stumped by John Simpson.
11.10am
Lancashire 1st inns 387-6 (98 overs) Bell 86 Hartley 11 lead by 193 runs
Tom Hartley continues with the positive approach as he combines with George Bell in taking some very quick singles and putting the Middlesex fielders under pressure.
Lancashire's lead is approaching 200 and Bell is 14 away from what would be a maiden first-class century.
10.50am
Lancashire 1st inns 363-6 (93 overs) Bell 68 Hartley 0 lead by 169 runs
The two Georges have set about the Middlesex bowling with a flurry of boundaries as Lancashire chase quick runs.
That has forced Middlesex into posting defensive fielding positions, with no slips, but George Balderson has gone edging behind off Ryan Higgins for 12.
10.30am
Lancashire 1st inns 335-5 (89 overs) Bell 61 Balderson 0 lead by 142 runs
We are under way on the final day with George Bell reaching a first-class best 61 not out after guiding Higgins to the vacant third man boundary.
Earlier, in a nice move, Dane Vilas was asked to ring the bell outside the pavilion at the start of what is his last day as a Lancashire player, the squad applauding from the dressing room balcony.
10.00am
We have a lovely sunny morning at Emirates Old Trafford, a complete contrast to the conditions 24 hours ago.
Lancashire will resume their first innings on 330 for five when play starts at 10.30am with George Bell on 56 and George Balderson yet to score, with the pair looking to build quickly on Lancashire's 136-run lead before trying to bowl Middlesex later.
Our match report on yesterday's play, where Dane Vilas - playing in his last game for Lancashire - scored a fabulous century can be found on the link below.
