LIVE BLOG: Lancashire v Middlesex, Day Three
Latest news from the third day of the LV= County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.
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5.55pm, CLOSE Day 3
Lancashire 1st inns 330-5 (88.1 overs) Bell 56 Balderson 0, lead by 136 runs.
That is the end of proceedings for the day.
5.43pm
Lancashire 1st inns 330-5 (88.1 overs) Bell 56 Balderson 0, lead by 136 runs.
It has started to rain and play is halted once more.
There are 9.5 overs left to bowl but it's got to be doubtful if we will get any of them played.
The crowd have decided and pretty much most of them have left!
5.37pm
Lancashire 1st inns 330-5 (87.1 overs) Bell 56 Balderson 0, lead by 136 runs.
Dane Vilas' great innings comes to an end when he is lbw for 124 to Ethan Bamber.
All those present are quite rightly standing to applaud Vilas off the pitch.
5.30pm
Lancashire 1st inns 323-4 (86 overs) Vilas 123 Bell 51, lead by 130 runs.
Well batted Belly!
George Bell reaches his third fifty of the season from 75 balls (4 fours) and that's the century partnership off 151 balls as Lancashire continue to build their lead.
5.00pm
Lancashire 1st inns 289-4 (78.1 overs) Vilas 103 Bell 36, lead by 95 runs.
Fabulous! Dane Vilas, in his last season with the Red Rose, cuts for four to reach his 25th first-class century and 10th for Lancashire.
4.50pm
Lancashire 1st inns 278-4 (76 overs) Vilas 95 Bell 33, lead by 84 runs.
George Bell on drives Bamber for four with a lovely timed shot and that brings up the fifty partnership off 89 balls.
4.30pm
Lancashire 1st inns 259-4 (72 overs) Vilas 89 Bell 21, lead by 65 runs.
And we are back!
Three overs were lost in that last stoppage, so we now have 27 overs left today.
It's much brighter now, thankfully, but some dark clouds are looming to the south-west.
George Bell square drives Ethan Bamber for four to get the first batting point and then edges between slips and gully for four more!
4.17pm, BAD LIGHT DELAY
Lancashire 1st inns 248-4 (71 overs) Vilas 88 Bell 11, lead by 54 runs
We've had one over of spin from Jayant after tea and the umpires have decided the light is too bad to continue.
3.50pm, TEA Day 3
Lancashire 1st inns 245-4 (70 overs) Vilas 86 Bell 10, lead by 51 runs.
That has been an excellent session for Lancashire who are fifty ahead and in a great position to build a big lead over Middlesex.
The one disappointment was for Luke Wells who fell just three short of his century.
3.35pm
Lancashire 1st inns 236-4 (65 overs) Vilas 79 Bell 8, lead by 42 runs.
That wicket has had the effect of slowing the scoring down which Middlesex will be pleased about after being under the pump for the majority of this session.
Dane Vilas has also passed 20,000 career runs in all formats during this innings - a remarkable achievement.
3.17pm
Lancashire 1st inns 227-4 (61 overs) Vilas 76 Bell 3, lead by 33 runs.
Agony for Luke Wells who is tempted down the pitch by Jayant and he nicks behind where John Simpson takes a great catch and also completes a stumping just to make sure! We think both umpires gave him out!
It's the catch that counts first and Wells goes for 97 off 196 balls (1x6, 15x4).
2.55pm
Lancashire 1st inns 204-3 (56 overs) Wells 91 Vilas 64, lead by 10 runs.
Dane Vilas has swept de Caires for six over deep square leg as Lancashire go into the lead.
Vilas and Wells have also reached their century partnership off 160 balls as Lancashire power on, taking 75 runs off 15 overs so far today
2.45pm
Lancashire 1st inns 186-3 (53 overs) Wells 88 Vilas 50, trail by 8 runs.
Jayant has actually changed ends, replacing Bamber, and Dane Vilas sweeps for a single that brings up his fifty! It came off 72 balls with 7 fours and took 99 minutes.
2.40pm
Lancashire 1st inns 181-3 (52 overs) Wells 84 Vilas 49, trail by 13 runs.
Josh de Caires replaces Jayant Yadav but he won't want to see either of his first two deliveries again, a full toss and a long hop, both hammered to the boundary by Dane Vilas.
2.25pm
Lancashire 1st inns 154-3 (48 overs) Wells 78 Vilas 32, trail by 40 runs.
Did I say quiet start?
Luke Wells and Dane Vilas have just taken 13 runs off Jayant's last over, Wells pulling the spinner for six over midwicket to bring up the 50 partnership off 116 balls and Vilas has cut Jayant for a four.
2.15pm
Lancashire 1st inns 140-3 (46 overs) Wells 70 Vilas 26, trail by 54 runs.
Jayant Yadav has joined Ethan Bamber in the Middlesex attack as we get under way.
Luke Wells has glanced Jayant to the vacant fine leg boundary for four but otherwise it has been a quiet start.
2.00pm
Lancashire 1st inns 132-3 (42 overs) Wells 65 Vilas 23
Thankfully the rain has stayed away, the overhead conditions have brightened although the floodlights are on, and we have cricketers out on the pitch ready to start day three.
Luke Wells will face the first ball from Ethan Bamber.
1.20pm, PLAY TO START AT 2PM
Some greatwork by the groundstaff means play will start at 2pm with a minimum of 59 overs to be bowled.
Tea will be 3.50pm-4.10pm.
12.00am, LUNCH Day 3, PITCH INSPECTION DUE
At last some better news!
It has stopped raining, the covers are being taken off and there will be a pitch inspection at 1.15pm.
11.00am
It has got lighter in the last fifteen minutes and the puddles on the outfield have steadily drained away during the last hour.
But there is still light drizzle falling and with an extensive mopping operation required should it stop, any prospect of play before the scheduled 12.40pm lunch interval looks very unlikely.
10.00am
It is raining and very wet at Emirates Old Trafford with no prospect of play starting at present.
If you would like to catch up on how the game has gone so far, click on the links below.