SECOND XI: Middlesex clash finely poised after Day Two
Lancashire Cricket’s Second XI clash with Middlesex is finely poised after an eventful Day Two at Newton Le Willows Cricket Club.
The Red Rose resumed the day on 170-5, after rain interrupted the first day. Rocky Flintoff (94) and Ben Walkden (42) were at the crease, though both fell short of their century and half-century respectively.
Flintoff was out caught at slip, and Walkden on the boundary looking to clear the ropes. Despite a fighting 21 from Ollie Sutton, Lancs were bowled out for 224.
Middlesex, started quickly, with experienced opener Sam Robson going on the attack from ball one. He raced to 52 off just 37 balls, before Tom Walker stopped him in his tracks. The fast bowler got one to rise off a length and Robson could not get under it enough, top edging to wicketkeeper George Bell.
Despite another rapid innings of 42 from only 29 balls by Jack Davies, the visitors began to lose wickets at a quick rate. Between them, Walkden and Walker (3-72) reduced Middlesex to 183-6, having been two wickets down for just three runs less a matter of overs before.
There was resistance from opening batter Nathan Fernandes, who played a brilliant hand. He carried his bat, scoring 119, and helped his side get a small lead. However, he had little support, with his side being bowled out for 248, giving them a lead of 24.
The pick of the Red Rose bowlers was surely Walkden. He finished with figures of 3-50 off 18 overs, running through the Middlesex middle order to help leave the game on a knife edge.
Lancs had a tricky couple of hours to bat in the evening, though things didn’t get off to the best start. Inside the first 10 overs, the Red Rose had lost four wickets, with George Harris, Bell, Kesh Fonseka and Flintoff all falling for less than 30 runs.
It was once again Walkden (33 not out), alongside Rian Maisuria (42 not out), who steadied the ship. The pair battled hard against a relatively new ball and began to find runs more frequently, to put Lancs into the lead.
They each hit six boundaries as they steered their side to 105-4 overnight, with a lead of 81, giving the Red Rose something to build on ahead of a huge Day Three on Merseyside.