Middlesex toil at hands of Lancashire duo

Middlesex’s attack was ground down by centurion Alviro Petersen as Lancashire established a commanding position on the opening day at Lord’s.

Peteren made an unbeaten 105, adding 97 for the third wicket with 19-year-old opener Haseeb Hameed, who scored 89.

When Hameed was dismissed, Steven Croft scored an unbeaten 34 as he and Petersen put on a further 100, with power to add on Monday.

Tim Murtagh, Toby Roland-Jones and James Franklin took a wicket apiece but it was generally hard going for the bowlers.

After Tom Smith had fallen for 17 in the 15th over, Luke Procter contributed a busy 45 from 61 balls, with seven fours, before being well held low down by Ollie Rayner at second slip off Murtagh.

That brought Petersen and Hameed together and they ensured first-day honours went Lancashire’s way.

The 35-year-old South African Petersen, who played 35 Tests, hit four fours and a six in his century, while the patient and well-organised Hameed took three hours and 137 balls to reach 50.

He did bat more fluently once he had completed his half-century but was eventually snaffled by Roland-Jones.

Croft, on 17, was fortunate to survive when he skied an attempted big hit at Ollie Rayner to extra cover, where Paul Stirling dropped the chance.

He made Middlesex pay and they will need early wickets on Monday to get back into the match.