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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Macpherson at Lord's

Middlesex and Lancashire thriller nears climax as Sangakkara scores eighth century

Steven Finn
Steven Finn took a late wicket as Middlesex chase victory against Lancashire. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Report: Wickets tumble at Lord's again as Middlesex hunt Lancashire's batsmen

At this stage of the summer every day is a defining day but Thursday looks gargantuan, and thrilling: there will be a result at Lord’s, and Middlesex will have been mighty careless if they are on the wrong end of it.

Across London, thanks to Kumar Sangakkara’s eighth Championship century of a special summer, Surrey have Somerset, Middlesex’s opponents next week, on the back foot, 59 ahead in their first innings with four wickets still remaining.

In NW8, after 15 day-one wickets, 16 followed on the second. To win, Middlesex need nine more, but Lancashire need only 175 runs, and have the batting to do it.

Middlesex are without Toby Roland‑Jones, who will take no further part in the match due to a back injury. Following an inconclusive scan, he batted in their second innings and will undergo further tests on Thursday – no doubt with England hovering – but the injury is not considered serious.

Given 50 minutes to bowl on the second evening, Middlesex missed him badly and, despite Steven Finn trapping Alex Davies lbw, were poor, with boundary balls aplenty. Even such a helpful surface as this cannot do all the work for them.

It is certainly misbehaving. Before lunch, a ball spat up and pinned Stevie Eskinazi on the hand. After an early tea, every second ball – like the one that trapped James Harris in front – seemed to be staying low. Middlesex’s approach, reasonably enough, was to shelve timidity. That saw Sam Robson out hooking and John Simpson caught at cover, both brilliantly taken by Kyle Jarvis off Tom Bailey, who ended with five in each innings and figures of 10 for 98. He had never taken more than six in a match before. His style, demanding a stroke and nagging of length, was just what was required.

Middlesex were 68 ahead on first innings, having bowled well to pick up the final five Lancashire wickets in 90 minutes on the second morning. Tim Murtagh had Steven Croft, swinging, and Jordan Clark, prodding a lifter, caught behind, then Bailey was taken at second slip off James Harris. Ollie Rayner finished things off, thanks partly to a superb diving catch at mid-on from Finn to dismiss Ryan McLaren. Robson and Simpson’s efforts saw a lead of 68 become a very testing target of 221, even though they lost their last six for 37.

Skittled for 76 by Hampshire, for whom Kyle Abbott took six for 20, and forced to follow on 178 behind, Essex then showed the mettle of champions, reaching stumps 30 in front for the loss of their top three. The impressive Dan Lawrence, 20, has 78.

Yorkshire are in the mire at Headingley but lead Warwickshire, who are one down in their second innings, by 28 runs. Yorkshire, though, may yet rue being bowled out for 296, four shy of a vital third batting point.

So to SE11, where Sangakkara’s final appearance at The Oval – he insists, frustratingly, that he must retire – yielded yet another century; in only 13 innings, he now has one against every Championship team he has played against this summer, and only Hampshire have been spared his brilliance. His closest challenger in the Division One charts is Mark Stoneman, who passed 1,000 Championship runs for the fifth successive season in the course of his 51. He is a mere 350 runs behind, and has half as many tons.

His efforts, particularly in sharing 109 with Ollie Pope (who is two decades younger and made 50), put Surrey 59 ahead with four first-innings wickets in hand. He now has the chance to bat Somerset out of the game, and Middlesex, against whom he scored twin tons at Lord’s, will have an eye on his progress.

A pivotal day also awaits in Division Two. Rory Kleinveldt has 11 of the 12 Nottinghamshire wickets to fall (including nine for 65 in the first innings), and Northamptonshire are on the verge of an upset that would throw open the promotion race. Notts were bowled out for 151 by Kleinveldt, and trailed by 43 on first innings, which became a target of 314 after a 93-ball century from Richard Levi (not to mention a hard-hitting 48 from Kleinveldt, who had made 43 in the first innings). By stumps, the meaty South African had bowled Steven Mullaney and had Billy Root caught in the gully. Notts need 281 more.

Updated

That's all folks!

Well, then. Tomorrow is a big day in the Championship. Can Middlesex skittle Lancashire? Can Northants do the same to Notts?

Division One:

  • Lancashire 165 & 46-1 v Middlesex 233 & 152
  • Surrey 328-6 v Somerset 269
  • Warwickshire 219 & 49-1 v Yorkshire 296
  • Essex 76 & 208-3 v Hampshire 254

Division Two:

  • Notts 151 & 33-2 v Northants 194 & 270
  • Gloucestershire 161-1 v Glamorgan 442
  • Durham 321-6 v Sussex 346
  • No play yet between Derbyshire and Kent

Speak in the morning, bright and early!

That’ll be stumps, I’m sure. Thrilling final day awaits.

Still five overs to go here, but the umpires conferring ... and off we go. Lancashire 46 for one, needing 175 to win. Middlesex very poor this evening.

Stumps at Trent Bridge too, where Notts are 33 for two chasing 281, and Rory Kleinvedlt has 11 wickets to go with 91 runs in the match.

And stumps at the Ageas, where Essex are effectively 30 for three.

Stumps at the Oval. Surrey lead by 59, four down. Sangakkara still there.

Wicket! Lancashire one down! Davies gone for one, to Finn.

Roland-Jones’s scan has proved inconclusive. He will have more tests tomorrow and won’t play any further part in this game.

Murtagh bowling poorly here, and Lancashire are 17 for noine, with three nice off-side boundaries from Hameed.

Every team he has played against, he has a ton against. Mad.

14 overs left here.

And they are back on at the Oval too.

The sun has poked through again. Surely we are coming back out.

Notts two down! And it’s Kleinveldt again!

Stumps at Headingley, where Warwickshire are one down (Sibley) and 28 behind.

Off at the Oval too. Surrey 317 for six, lead by 48.

So, off at Lord’s for bad light. Suits both sides, I’d say. Last thing Middlesex want is to waste the new ball using the wrong bowlers. Last thing Lancashire want to do is lose one while it’s gloomy.

Scurran out! He’s nicked to first slip cutting. 317 for six, and a second bowling point for Somerset. Trego with his third.

And we are off!

Having a look at the light here...

Off for bad light at the Ageas! Essex, following on, lead by 30 with seven wickets in hand.

Updated

Here we go then. It’s a bit dark, and Lancashire need 221 to win. Murtagh to Davies.

100 for Sanga!

After moving to 99 with a straight drive, Sanga sits there for an age. Meanwhile, Scurran is smashing boundaries. And there he is! Makes it with a cut for four. 165 balls, 15 fours and a six. That’s his eighth of the summer!

Updated

21 overs remain tonight, theoretically.

Middlesex all out for 152! Lancashire need 221 to win!

Murtagh’s hilarious cameo comes to an end as he’s bowled by Jarvis. Another 15 wicket day already.

Lancashire need 221 to win, and that will be very tough, I reckon.

Wicket! Ten-fer for Tom Bailey! Rayner is lbw for five. Well bowled that man. 147 for nine, lead still 215.

Wicket! Rojo nails Jarvis straight to cover! Eight down, the lead is 215.

Notts need 314 to win!

Duckett absent injured so at 270 for nine, Northants are all out. Notts need 314 to win. Great effort from Northants.

Sanga on to 97...

Northants seven down, leading by 308... Kleinveldt gone for 48.

Sanga into the 90s with a five!

Ollie Robinson is bowling spin again! I remember well when he swapped mid-over here at Lord’s two years ago.

Looks like a nice spot of weather at the Ageas Bowl as Hampshire take on Essex.
Looks like a nice spot of weather at the Ageas Bowl as Hampshire take on Essex. Photograph: Harry Trump/Getty Images

My hunch here is that Middlesex might as well not muck about. The ball is up and down, and the target is already over 200. Might as well dart as many more as they can rather than waiting for the ball with their name on it.

Pope made 50, but he’s out. Caught behind off Tim Groenewald! 278 for five, and a lead of 9. Sanga has 88.

Essex lead!

130 for seven now. Jarvis has Harris lbw with a scooter. Didn’t get above ankle height.

Wicket! Simpson was just starting to tick, but he’s slapped Bailey to cover, where Jarvis has taken another cracking catch. 130 for six, lead is 198. Here comes Rojo!

Surrey lead by 5!

50 for Dan Lawrence! 164 for three following on are Essex, and they trail by 14.

And the new ball has been taken. Ollie Pope has 42. Sanga has 86.

New balls due at the Oval with Surrey one behind.

Levi is out! He made 115 off 104 but has been bowled by Hutton! Northants five down, lead by 250.

Sanga has 83...

Yorkshire all out for 296! Is that a big batting point to miss? They lead by 77.

Bailey, by the way, has eight wickets.

What a catch! Robson had played very nicely for 58, but has gone hooking. Diving catch from Jarvis at deep backward-square. Middlesex are 115 for five, lead of 183. Very well placed I reckon. Bit of an audacious shot from Robson but reckon he’s already thinking that there’s a ball with his name on it.

ALL RUN FOUR AT LORD'S

Scenes. All run four for Simpson. 108 for four.

Starting again shortly at the Oval too.

50 for Sam Robson! Pinched single through the covers. 87 balls, six fours.

Yorkshire nine down, 11 short of a third batting point.

Players are coming back out! 41 overs left. Middlesex 94 for four.

A 92-ball ton for Richard Levi! 14 fours, four sixes. Can play. Lead is 215.

Not content with nine wickets, Rory Kleinvedlt has ambled out to bat at No6! Northants’ lead is 206, and Levi is nearing a ton.

Off for bad light at the Oval: Surrey 249 for four, 20 behind. Sanga has 77.

And off for bad light here too! Robson has 49, and Middlesex are 94 for four. That’s a lead of 162, which I reckon is vast.

Northants have lost two in an over to Hitman Hutton! Two Robs, Newton then Keogh. 151 for three, still 194 in front.

At tea, Yorkshire are 46 ahead, with two wickets in hand.

Northants have moved to 151 for four. Levi has 90, and their lead is 194. Good game for Notts to win from here.

Sanga has just nailed Bess down the ground for six.

Tea at the Ageas: Essex 118 for three. Lawrence has 37, and they are still 60 behind.

Paul McIntyre is confused by Somerset.

“Leach and Bess have bowled 8 out of 65 overs in the Surrey innings,” he writes. :Abell is bowling himself rather than his wicket-takers. What is going on out there?!”

New ball is nine away, and Surrey are four down just 39 behind. One of the game’s greatest batsman is 59 not out. Probably not the time to be bowling part-timers.

So this game continues to move on rapidly. Middlesex are 79 for four, but they lead by 147. Voges just went, caught well by McLaren in the gully. It was McLaren who got Malan too, lbw the first ball after the resumption. 44 overs left in the day. Who knows where the game will be?

Tea time - be back shortly.

Yorkshire lead six down! Bressie getting into the groove.

Durham four down suddenly, and still 153 behind.

Hearing tea at 2.40 here, with an inspection at 2.55. Might be slightly lighter now than it was 10 ago, but not by much.

Westley out! Caught and bowled Dawson ... Essex 81 for three. They are still 97 behind.

And they are off for light at the Oval too. Surrey 187 for four, 82 behind.

Sanga’s into the 40s...

Levi is smashing it, and Northants are 65 for one! That’s a lead of 108, just one down.

We are going off for light. Middlesex 54 for two.

Bit dark at Lord’s now. Middlesex have had a good half-hour, and lead by 121, two down.

Yorkshire have a batting point and are 202 for six, 17 behind.

12 dots to Dan Lawrence, then off the mark with a six. What a guy. 68 for two, 110 behind.

Foakes is out! Surrey 169 for four, 100 behind. He’s been caught behind off Trego. Stuck on 50-odd with Sanga, who has 28.

Peter Trego of Somerset, left, celebrates with a team-mate after dismissing Ben Foakes of Surrey.
Peter Trego of Somerset, left, celebrates with a team-mate after dismissing Ben Foakes of Surrey. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

That is immensely out.

No sooner do I say that (don’t start) and Browne is out! Lbw to Dawson, and Essex are 54 for two.

Liam Dawson of Hampshire celebrates after dismissing Nick Browne of Essex.
Liam Dawson of Hampshire celebrates after dismissing Nick Browne of Essex. Photograph: Harry Trump/Getty Images

Updated

Browne and Westley have 24 each, and Essex are 54 for one, 124 behind.

Apparently a big do in Cardiff for this today!

Yorkshire are 180 for six ... still 39 behind.

Your Surrey stream is here!

Paul McIntyre is in my inbox, raising a good point:

“Odd that Somerset’s top bowler has yet to feature in the Surrey innings. Is he ill/injured?”

It is indeed odd that he hasn’t figured until now ... but here he comes! It might be because Surrey’s top four is all left-handed. He’s on at 144 for three.

Stumps were called at Chesterfield a while ago. Sorry I missed that. Shambles.

Northants news:

Interesting... they are 4 for 1 (Murphy out), and lead by 47.

Roland-Jones is going round to the nets for a bat.

Yorkshire are 158 for five ... Ballance gone to Jeets! Still 61 behind.

Wicket! Eskinazi has been bowled by Bailey, and he has seven, more than he’s ever taken in a match before. 16 for two, leading by 84. Reckon 84 is quite a lot on this deck.

Lunch! Scores on the doors

Here you go. I’m off for a chat on the radio!

Division One:

  • Middlesex 14-1 & 233 v Lancashire 165
  • Surrey 122-3 v Somerset 269
  • Essex 76 & 22-1 v Hampshire 246
  • Yorkshire 153-4 v Warwickshire 219

Division Two:

  • Northants 194 & 2-0 v Nottinghamshire 151
  • Gloucestershire 12-0 v Glamorgan 442
  • Durham 120-1 v Sussex 346
  • No play yet between

Enjoy your sarnies!

That’s lunch! Middlesex 14 for one, both Eskinazi and Robson have 2.

Delay here at Lord’s because Bailey has got a lifter to pin Eskinazi on the hand. He’s getting some treatment.

Middlesex are one down! A beauty from Tom Bailey is feathered behind by Compo. 12 for one, lead by 80.

Rory Kleinveldt takes 9 for 65!

My word! What a man. Northants lead by 43 on first innings!

Ryan Patel gone at the Oval now! He’s gone to Groenewald and Somerset have two new batsmen at the crease. It’s 114 for three.

Burns has had his stumps rearranged by Trego! He made 43. That brings Sanga out.

Peter Trego is congratulated by his Somerset team-mates after dismissing Rory Burns of Surrey.
Peter Trego is congratulated by his Somerset team-mates after dismissing Rory Burns of Surrey. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images
Rory Burns of Surrey reacts after being dismissed by Peter Trego of Somerset
Rory Burns looks dejected as he trudges back to the pavilion. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

What a way to get off your pair! Pulled for four.

Glamorgan 442 all out! Well batted Kiran Carlson.

Well here come the Middlesex openers for round two then. 25 minutes til lunch, and they lead by 68. Compo is on a pair.

Essex are one down following on. Should they have picked Alastair Cook?

Lancashire 165 all out! Middlesex lead by 68!

Rayner gets Parkinson lbw sweeping and that’s a quality performance from Middlesex this morning. They have a lead of 68.

Notts are 130 for nine! And Big Rory has eight for!

Very good find...

What a catch! Finny has taken a worldie at mid-on to get rid of McLaren. Diving like a six foot seven salmon, he took one low to his left. Rayner the bowler. 161 for nine.

Big Rory has seven!

Matthew Doherty writes with a very fine point.

“I think this Essex team are secret Australians losing the dead rubbers!” he writes!

They haven’t lost yet...

So the champions are following on at the Ageas.

Yorkshire 115 for four! Lyth gone to Big Boyd!

And a wicket at the Oval! Trego gets Stoneman for 51, caught behind.

Peter Trego of Somerset celebrates with his team-mates after dismissing Mark Stoneman of Surrey.
Peter Trego of Somerset celebrates with his team-mates after dismissing Mark Stoneman of Surrey. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

A wicket here! Harris gets Bailey edging to second slip. Rayner takes the catch, because that is what he does. 150 for eight.

The champions are all out for 76!

Relegate them!

50 for Mark Stoneman! As per....

Essex are nine down as Wagner goes first ball! Abbott on a hat-trick.

Any one know if Essex can be dragged into the relegation battle?

Essex are 75 for eight! Five for Kyle Abbott...! Tendo and Harmer gone.

Warwickshire have a third! Yorkshire 98 for three as Lees goes to Wright. G-Ballz is in.

There was a wicket here! Murtagh got Clark out, another caught behind. Bit of a beauty, just tickled through to Simpson. 123 for seven.

I’ll be doing this at lunch. Listen in!

So, Roland-Jones update: off for a precautionary scan, won’t bowl today but they are happy for him to bat. He was milling around perfectly happily this morning and isn’t in any great discomfort.

Brilliant celebrappeal!

This as well

Wicket! Dial M for Murtagh! That’s no way to go, and Croft is spewing with himself. Ugly heave at Murtagh and he’s gawn! Caught behind.

Well bowled.

Morning Stuie! Need three more wickets...

The champions are 40 for six! Lawrence gone, bowled by Abbott!

Notts have also already lost a wicket! Billy Root. He made 11 before being caught at first gripper off Big Rory. 83 for six.

A wicket already at Headingley, but it’s only the nightwatchman Patterson. 62 for two.

And here’s confirmation. Bad news for the Middle Saxons.

Looks to me like Paul Stirling is fielding in Roland-Jones’s place.

There’s the five minute bell! Saggers and Mallender on the way out.

Well we are about 12 minutes away from tee off here at Lord’s. No sense of whether we’ll see Rojo from the start yet. No news tends to be good news in this situation.

Oh dear, oh dear. Kent might as well head south now and save on hotels for the next two nights.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Wednesday, then. The week is half up! Sort of. This round of Championship matches has a run a mere quarter of its course. Again, sort of, because were I a betting man - ACSU, if you’re reading (I know you’re not), I am no betting man - I’d be backing some three day finishes this week. I mean, there were 51 wickets across four Division One games yesterday! Things are moving on fast. I’m Will Macpherson, I’m at Lord’s and I’m here to guide you through these fast-moving things.

One of those three day finishes is likely to be here at Lord’s. Lancashire bowled out Middlesex, but not as cheaply as they should have because of Rojo and The Great Ollie Rayner. Middlesex then half bowled Lancashire out. They need to finish that job, but Roland-Jones hobbled off a bit hurt at the end, which has to be a concern.

What of elsewhere, I hear you cry? Surrey had the best of things against Somerset at the Oval, which produced the shock of the week with the fall of 10 whole wickets. All of those were Somerset wickets, despite the efforts of Tres and Steve Davies. At Headingley there were 11 more. Yorkshire, you sense, will be looking to bat once, and bat big. Down in Hampshire, Essex have a right job on their hands to keep their unbeaten record.

The only game that really matters in Division Two is at Northampton. Notts are in a touch of first innings strife, but Northants only made 194. Bubbling nicely. Up at Durham, Jennings didn’t make it to stumps after Sussex batted pretty well. Luke Wells loves playing them, doesn’t he? Worth saying well done to Kiran Carlson on a ton for Glamorgan against the Glosters, and worth wondering if we will get any play at Chesterfield. Outground cricket in September gets me chuntering. Here’s the scores:

Division One:

  • Lancashire 113-5 v Middlesex 233
  • Surrey 42-0 v Somerset 269
  • Yorkshire 62-1 v Warwickshire 219
  • Essex 33-5 v Hampshire 254

Division Two:

  • Nottinghamshire 80-5 v Northants 194
  • Glamorgan 342-7 v Gloucestershire
  • Durham 8-1 v Sussex 346
  • No play yet between Derbyshire and Kent

Yesterday’s report is here, and I really suggest you read it.

You can contact me! Here’s how:

I look forward to hearing from you. Let’s finish the season strongly on that front. And all that leaves me to say, as ever, is enjoy the cricket. There’s not long left.

Updated

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