| LV=County Championship Division One, Previous Trafford (day three): |
| Middlesex 194: Robson 86; Bailey 3-38; L Wooden 3-52 |
| Lancashire 330-5: Vilas 124, Wells 97, Bell 56*; De Caires 2-72 |
| Lancashire (5 pts) lead Middlesex (1 pt) by136 runs with 5 wickets remaining |
| Scorecard |
Dane Vilas struck a century as Lancashire compiled a wholesome first-innings lead over struggling Middlesex on a rain-hit day at Previous Trafford.
Vilas, 38, who’s retiring this month from first-class cricket after seven seasons with the county, hit 124, his tenth Championship hundred because the Purple Rose ended on 330-5, 136 runs forward.
He shared stands of 128 with Luke Wells (97) and 106 with George Bell, who’s 56 not out.
Solely 46.1 overs have been potential with Middlesex unable so as to add any bonus factors of their battle to keep away from relegation.
Rain had worn out all the morning session with play not starting till 14:00 BST and resuming 62 runs forward, Middlesex wanted fast wickets to get again into the competition.
Their trigger had additionally not been helped with information that relegation rivals Kent had enforced the follow-on at house to Nottinghamshire.
However a wretched first hour noticed Lancashire rating 76 runs in 15 overs to maneuver into the lead as Vilas and Wells have been untroubled.
The truth is, there was shock when Wells fell three wanting a second Championship ton of the summer season.
He superior down the wicket to India spinner Jayant Yadav aiming for a giant shot to convey up his hundred and it regarded like he had been stumped, but it surely was really an excellent reflex catch by wicketkeeper John Simpson.
However Bell joined Vilas to proceed to deepen Middlesex’s distress. The younger 20-year-old performed a high-quality help position as the previous Lancashire captain moved into the nineties.
Then when Toby Roland-Jones dropped a fraction quick, Vilas steered one out to the offside boundary to convey up his first Championship hundred since April 2022 and the twenty fifth of his first-class profession, this coming off 155 balls.
He had been wanting runs all summer season, with just one 50 beforehand, however there was an enormous outpouring of help from his team-mates and the small, however educated, Previous Trafford crowd recognising Vilas’ contribution during the last seven seasons, of which 4 have been as skipper.
The South Africa participant ultimately went for 124, however solely after Bell had reached the third half-century of his profession.
Rain then chopped off nearly 9 overs on the finish of the day to conclude a nasty one for Middlesex.
They’ve 21.5 overs left to say at the least 4 wickets and get the 2 extra bowling factors on supply, earlier than they will start batting once more in a bid to avoid wasting the sport.
With Kent in a powerful place to pressure victory over Notts, Middlesex actually can not afford to lose this one.