Drama keeps Middlesex waiting on safety

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Latest, day three: Lancashire 302-8 dec lead Middlesex 214 by 88 runs
Lancashire 6 pts, Middlesex 3 pts

Middlesex came within an over of guaranteeing Division One survival only for veteran Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple to hit a six to keep his side alive in a gripping relegation decider.

Amid dramatic scenes at Old Trafford, Middlesex steadily turned the screw on the hosts, who required seven runs in the 110th over of the innings to secure the extra bonus point needed to avoid dropping out of the top flight.

But 40-year-old Chapple smashed the first ball of that Toby Roland-Jones over for six over midwicket and then got three off the next delivery, giving themselves a real shot at sending the visitors down instead.

They instantly declared, 88 runs ahead on first innings, and Middlesex now need to avoid defeat to stay up.

Resuming on 259-6, Lancashire knew they had to score 41 runs from the first 14 overs of the day, without losing three wickets, to ensure this absorbing clash would go to the wire.

Tim Murtagh looked to have nudged Middlesex closer to safety when he took two wickets in successive overs.

He first had Luke Proctor lbw for 42, although replays showed the ball had pitched outside leg stump, and trapped Simon Kerrigan without scoring.

One more wicket would have given Middlesex an additional bowling bonus point that would have left Lancashire unable to overhaul them.

But number 10 Tom Bailey dug in, surviving a top edge that fell just short of wicket-keeper John Simpson and twice diving into his crease on scrambled singles.

At the other end, Middlesex allowed Chapple singles at the start of several overs to give themselves five balls at the tailender Bailey.

The two lower order batsmen chipped away at the runs but Murtagh and Roland-Jones tightened things up as the crucial 110th over, when final bonus points are calculated, neared.

Chapple had the last word, though, with an astonishingly bold swipe over the rope, and with a healthy lead and helpful bowling conditions, Lancashire may now consider themselves favourites.

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