LIVE BLOG: Lancashire v Middlesex, Day One
Latest news from the first day of the LV= County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.
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5.51pm, CLOSE Day 1
Middlesex 1st inns 132-8 (58 overs) Robson 56, Roland-Jones 2
Fair play to the umpires, they stayed out and took several light meter readings but with no improvement play has been abandoned for the day.
5.30pm, BAD LIGHT DELAY
Middlesex 1st inns 132-8 (58 overs) Robson 56, Roland-Jones 2
Bad light continues to hold up play, but it is not raining.
The groundstaff are in the middle waiting for instructions but no covers are on, apart from the hover cover being on standby, to allow a quick restart if that becomes possible.
5.08pm, BAD LIGHT DELAY
Middlesex 1st inns 132-8 (58 overs) Robson 56, Roland-Jones 2
A further 7 balls have been bowled following a 5pm restart but the deteriorating light has seen the umpires call a halt to proceedings.
It's too early to say whether that will be the end of play though. We will await news from the umpires.
4.53pm, RAIN DELAY
Middlesex 1st inns 131-8 (56.5 overs) Robson 56, Roland-Jones 1
Well despite it getting slightly brighter, Emirates Old Trafford has now got slightly wetter as rain falls and the players leave the pitch again.
4.45pm
Middlesex 1st inns 130-8 (55 overs) Robson 56, Roland-Jones 0
Whisper it, but it is getting slightly brighter as we play on.
Sam Robson has received two contrasting deliveries from Will Williams, driving a slightly overpitched effort for four but then beaten all end's up by a delivery that jagged away off a good length. Unplayable.
But he's still there on 56 but has seen Jayant Yadav depart for 4, pulling a Tom Bailey bouncer to Luke Wells at midwicket.
4.35pm
Middlesex 1st inns 124-7 (52 overs) Robson 50, Jayant 4
Play restarting with Tom Bailey bowling to FIVE slips in overcast conditions with the floodlights on. I'm not sure how long we will get in this session with all the dark clouds around.
4.05pm, PLAY TO RESTART
Middlesex 1st inns 124-7 (50.4 overs) Robson 50, Jayant 4
We are going to resume play at 4.30pm with 32 overs & 2 balls to be bowled in the day.
3.55pm, RAIN DELAY
Middlesex 1st inns 124-7 (50.4 overs) Robson 50, Jayant 4
Better news - the covers are coming off and hopefully we might have some play soon.
3.45pm, RAIN DELAY
Middlesex 1st inns 124-7 (50.4 overs) Robson 50, Jayant 4
We have had tea during this delay, and it is brighter at the moment although light drizzle continues to fall and the covers remain in place.
3.03pm, RAIN DELAY
Middlesex 1st inns 124-7 (50.4 overs) Robson 50, Jayant 4
A combination of rain and bad light has taken the players off the field.
2.57pm
Middlesex 1st inns 118-7 (50.2 overs) Robson 50, Jayant 0
Sam Robson reaches a very patient fifty, and very valuable innings for his side, from 150 balls with 5 fours, the most recent bringing up his half century.
Josh De Caires has received a 'life', put down at second slip off Luke Wood on 10. I think he was already crouching for the next ball bouncer before a frustrated Wood let it go!
But it didn't really matter as De Caires fences at a Tom Bailey delivery and edges to George Bell for 14.
2.29pm
Middlesex 1st inns 104-6 (43 overs) Robson 40, De Caires 10
Some probing, accurate bowling by Luke Wood and George Balderson has backed up that post-lunch breakthrough by Will Williams as Robson and De Caires slowly advance the Middlesex score up to three figures.
And De Caires has just punched a lovely cover drive off Wood for his first four – and getting a bouncer next ball for his trouble.
It is getting darker/cloudier and the floodlights are coming on.
1.55pm
Middlesex 1st inns 83-6 (35.3 overs) Robson 31, De Caires 0
Lancashire finally have a breakthrough 30 minutes after lunch as Ryan Higgins gets a big inside edge off Will Williams to deflect the ball onto his leg stump.
That’s a bit of tough luck for the Middlesex man who departs for 41 and it ends a good partnership of 64 that has partly helped the visitors recover from an horrendous start to the day.
12.45pm, LUNCH Day 1
Middlesex 1st inns 65-5 (28 overs) Robson 25, Higgins 30
That has been an excellent morning’s work by the Red Rose attack with all four seamers taking at least one wicket.
Middlesex will be grateful to opener Sam Robson for sticking at the crease as wickets tumbled at the other end, and Ryan Higgins who has batted really positively since his arrival when his side were deep in trouble.
These two have added 46 runs for the sixth wicket so far.
Whether it was wise to bat after winning the toss remains to be seen, with Toby Roland-Jones likely wanting to bowl Indian off spinner Jayant Yadav in the fourth innings – if the game goes that far.
12.20pm
Middlesex 1st inns 39-5 (21 overs) Robson 18, Higgins 13
The first four of the day finally arrives in the 20th over as Ryan Higgins drives George Balderson to the square leg boundary, while in the following over Sam Robson straight drives Luke Wood for his first four from the 61st ball he has faced.
12.05pm
Middlesex 1st inns 19-5 (16.3 overs) Robson 11, Simpson 0
George Balderson joins the wicket-taking party by swinging in a ball to John Simpson that finds an edge to wicketkeeper Phil Salt for 1.
12.00pm
Middlesex 1st inns 18-4 (16.3 overs) Robson 11, Simpson 0
Left hander Max Holden doesn’t stay long, edging Luke Wood to George Bell at first slip for 0 as Lancashire morning keeps getting better.
Sam Robson has scored Middlesex’s only century this season and the visitors look like they will need all his skill and nous – and a big score – if they are to post a decent total.
11.50am
Middlesex 1st inns 16-3 (15 overs) Robson 9, Holden 0
Jack Davies’ 49 minute vigil comes to an end when he nicks an attempted pull off Luke Wood’s sixth delivery to wicketkeeper Phil Salt for 4.
11.20am
Middlesex 1st inns 7-2 (8 overs) Robson 4, Davies 1
Tom Bailey and Will Williams are finding a fair amount of swing and seam and have very nearly added to their wickets tally with both Middlesex batters playing and missing on several occasions.
Sam Robson and Jack Davies are fighting hard to keep the Red Rose duo at bay in humid conditions that are really benefitting the bowlers.
11.00am
Middlesex 1st inns 5-2 (2.3 overs) Robson 4, Davies 0
The Middlesex start worsens as Joe Cracknell is bowled by Will Williams for 1.
10.56am
Middlesex 1st inns 4-1 (2.3 overs) Robson 4, Cracknell 0
Mark Stoneman has gone for a duck, well held at fourth slip by Tom Hartley after Tom Bailey found a thick outside edge.
Middlesex have only managed two batting points this season and that exactly the start they would have hoped to avoid.
10.45am
The start has been delayed by 15 minutes which means no overs have been lost. Lunch will be at 12.45pm and tea 3.25pm or 32 overs remaining. Scheduled close of play is 5.45pm.
Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson are ready to face the first over from Tom Bailey.
10.30am
TOSS: Middlesex have won the toss and have chosen to bat.
TEAMS
Lancashire: Keaton Jennings (capt), Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon, Dane Vilas, Phil Salt (wkt), George Bell, George Balderson, Tom Hartley, Tom Bailey, Luke Wood, Will Williams.
Middlesex: Toby Roland-Jones (capt), Mark Stoneman, Sam Robson, Joe Cracknell, Jack Davies, Max Holden, John Simpson (wkt), Ryan Higgins, Josh De Caires, Ethan Bamber, Jayant Yadav.
Lancashire are unchanged from the side that won at Northampton last week.
Middlesex have one change with Luke Hollman replaced by new signing Jayant Yadav, the Indian off-spinner who has signed for their final three games.
While Lancashire are placed comfortably in mid table, the visitors are in desperate need of points if they are to avoid relegation. They are in 8th place, six points ahead of 9th-placed Kent.
10.20am
Better news, the rain, drizzle really, has stopped and the toss will take place at 10.30am with play starting at 10.45am.
10.00am
Unfortunately it has started to rain just before the toss which has been delayed.
9.30am
Good morning from Emirates Old Trafford ahead our LV= Insurance County Championship match against Middlesex.
Ground conditions are good and we are readying ourselves for a 10.30am with the toss and team news shortly after 10am.
Lancashire squad: Keaton Jennings (capt), Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon, Dane Vilas, Steven Croft, Phil Salt (wkt), George Bell, George Balderson, Tom Hartley, Tom Bailey, Luke Wood, Will Williams, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb.
Middlesex squad: Toby Roland-Jones (capt), Mark Stoneman, Sam Robson, Joe Cracknell, Jack Davies, Max Holden, John Simpson (wkt), Ryan Higgins, Luke Hollman, Josh De Caires, Ethan Bamber, Jayant Yadav, Stephen Eskinazi, Tom Helm