MATCH REPORT: Vilas and Wells put Lancashire in command
A superb century by Dane Vilas in his last season for the Red Rose, 97 by Luke Wells and an unbeaten half century by George Bell has put Lancashire in a commanding position after three days of this LV= Insurance County Championship match against Middlesex.
The hosts are 330 for five to lead by 136 runs and that was down to some entertaining innings on a day comprising only 47.1 overs after morning rain resulted in a 2pm start.
Wells and Vilas wasted little time in getting the scoreboard moving along when play resumed with Lancashire 132 for three, and 62 runs behind.
The pair hammered 75 runs off the first 15 overs, taking 13 runs off one Jayant Yadav over, the sixth of the day, that included Wells pulling the spinner for six over midwicket to bring up the 50 partnership off 116 balls.
Vilas kept up the momentum by taking consecutive boundaries off Josh de Caires’ leg spin as the Red Rose duo piled the pressure onto the visitors, Vilas making an excellent 72-ball fifty and going to the milestone of 20,000 career runs in all formats when he reached 70.
Middlesex seemed to have no real answer with Vilas sweeping de Caires for six over deep square leg to take Lancashire racing into the lead as the pair also posted their century partnership off 160 balls.
But just when Wells seemed certain to reach three figures, he was tempted down the pitch on 97 by Jayant only to edge behind where John Simpson took a smart catch and – for good measure – completed a stumping, both umpires giving Wells out simultaneously but with the catch the one to count.
George Bell helped keep the momentum going after tea with some nicely timed drives, his fourth boundary also bringing up the fifty partnership off 89 balls.
And Lancashire continued to pile on the runs, Vilas and Bell posting their century partnership off 151 balls with Bell (56 not out) reaching his third fifty of the season just before rain ended the day early with 9.5 overs left.
But the moment of the day belonged to Vilas when he reached his 10th Red Rose hundred and 25th first-class century, after cutting Toby Roland-Jones for four. The standing ovation was richly deserved, as was the second one when Vilas departed lbw 124 to Ethan Bamber just before the close, job done.
That left Lancashire in a great position to push on for victory tomorrow.
“It feels amazing, it’s always good to score runs for the team and get them here – which is a special place for me – I’m very happy,” said Dane Vilas.
“Considering the season I’ve had, where I haven’t been at my best or most fluent, it was really nice to get a century and really contribute to something here.
“It’s put us in a good position after a couple of frustrating, but good, days for the team.”
And Vilas was delighted to have given something back as he moves towards the end of his time with the club.
“Everybody (here) has shown so much faith in me and given me every opportunity to perform and score runs, I was desperate to do that for the team, the staff and everybody who has given me support,” he said.
“It was nice to do it here at home.”
And Vilas admitted to some emotion at the end.
“I was a bit emotional walking off,” he said. “But it really hit me when I got back into the changing room. I got a lot of hugs and high fives from the guys which made it difficult.”
But Vilas was, typically, happier talking about other player performances and full of praise for George Bell’s half century.
“When Belly came in, they ramped it up a bit,” he said “and put a lot of pressure on him.
“I thought he rode that wave really well. He absorbed it and once he got going, he was so fluent. He looked like he was the one with a hundred the way he was playing. His timing of the ball is amazing.
“Belly’s been great for us all season,” he added. “He’s a really good player, he’s put in some good performances.
“He puts a lot of pressure on himself because he wants to play and do well for this team, and I’m so glad he played such a fluent innings which has put us in another good position.”
Ken Grime
Photos: Barry Mitchell
