Middlesex fightback sets up intriguing final day at Lord's
Today's match report presented by C&C Insurance Brokers
Middlesex 260 & 288-6 Lancashire 359
Middlesex lead by 189 with 4 2nd innings wickets in hand
By Jon Batham, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Max Holden’s sixth first-class hundred frustrated Lancashire to lead a Middlesex fightback on day three at Lord’s to set up the prospect of an exciting finish at Lord's.
The Cambridge-born left-hander followed up his half-century of the first innings with an unbeaten 135 to rescue his side from the havoc of 7-3 in the wake of Tom Bailey’s superb three-wicket opening salvo. Holden shared stands of 106 with Ryan Higgins (43) and 163 with debutante Ben Geddes (74) as the hosts reached 288-6 at stumps.
Late wickets with the second new ball gave the visitors the edge once more ahead of day four.
All this unfolded after Lancashire added just six to their overnight first innings score to be bowled out for 359, Saturday’s centurion Marcus Harris last to go 138, Zafar Gohar finishing with 4-79.
It was only two seasons ago Middlesex found themselves 4-4 in the first game of the season with the top four all dismissed without scoring and while this wasn’t quite as calamitous, Tom Bailey’s new-ball spell still caused much scrambling on of pads in the home dressing-room.
Nathan Fernandes looked nervous from the get-go and Bailey soon lured him into fencing at one he should have left alone, allowing wicketkeeper Matty Hurst to gobble up the chance.
If Fernandes was culpable, then Sam Robson was undone by a super piece of bowling, Bailey squaring up the former England opener and rapping him on the pad. Any hope it would considered too high was quickly dashed as umpire Surendiran Shanmugan sent him on his way.
And two balls later 7-2 became 7-3 as Leus du Ploy slashed wildly at a ball around fifth stump giving Hurst his second catch in a very few minutes. Bailey had taken 3-2 in 15 balls, leaving the hosts staring at the prospect of defeat inside three days.
Calm heads were required and for the second time in the match it was former England Lions batter Holden to dig in for the hosts.
Six such boundaries carried him past 50 and there would be seven more on the way to three figures, reached with an on-drive back past the stumps to the pavilion rope.
It required a jaffer from George Balderson to castle Higgins with the hosts 14 in front, but Geddes came in to take the baton and after a shaky start, he struck a number of boundaries.
By tea the lead had swollen to 72 and the pair showed greater intent after the resumption to move the stand to 100 and beyond.
Geddes reached his half-century with five fours, before falling to the second new ball, though replays suggested he hadn’t made contact with the delivery which found its way to Hurst’s gloves.
Nightwatchman Blake Cullen also perished before stumps, but Holden remains to try and steer Middlesex to a defendable total on day four.
Images by Luke Adams and Dan Adams
