[themaclad]

We start at Loughborough on Friday summer is almost here.


   

[themaclad]

A draw against the Students of Loughborough setting them 631 to win in a session and a half, surprised they didn't go for it. Double centuryfor Hameed, century for Jones and useful time at the crease for others, most of the bowlers are injured hence the loan signing of Footitt from Notts.

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Middlesex v Lancashire Lords 11/4/2019 to 14/4/2019

Lancashire open their Division 2 season with a trip to Lords to play Middlesex who are at the moment definitely being second best in their current match at Northampton.
On their own ground they will be a different prospect with an attack of Finn, Roland-Jones and Harris, batting wise Malan and Robson have played for England with prospect Nick Gubbins touted as an England player.
Lancashire without a whole host of bowlers but will have Anderson available for quite a few games this season.
Team news nearer the time.

[themaclad]

Middlesex 236-9 after being put in good fight back by the Red Rose after the home side had got to 83-1, Anderson and Bailey did the damage

[themaclad]

Return of the Hameed

STUMPS - DAY TWO

Middlesex 265 all out

Lancashire 267/4

Haseeb Hameed delivered a timely reminder to the Test selectors with his first century since 2016 as Lancashire moved into a first-innings lead against Middlesex on day two at Lord’s.

The 22-year-old opener, who played in three Tests as a teenager, endured a dreadful season in 2018 – averaging below 10 while his side were relegated from the top flight of the County Championship.

But national selector Ed Smith was in attendance to watch Hameed hit three figures for the first time in over two and a half years as the Red Rose began their bid for an immediate return to Division One.

Hameed only opened the Lancashire innings because Alex Davies had injured his thumb while keeping wicket on the first day, but he made the most of the opportunity with a virtually chanceless knock of 117 from 196 balls.

A first-wicket century stand with Keaton Jennings was the platform for the visitors to take control of the game and they ended the day on 267-4 – a lead of two runs.

Lancashire seamer Tom Bailey (5-67) began the day by completing a five-wicket haul as the home side were bowled out for 265 after the last pair of Murtagh (16*) and Toby Roland-Jones (35) had added 29 to earn a second batting bonus point.

Although Murtagh bowled a consistent line when Lancashire began their reply, the rest of the Middlesex seamers were unable to gain control as Hameed and Jennings progressed to 88-0 at lunch.

Apart from a difficult caught and bowled opportunity that Steven Finn was unable to cling on to, Hameed offered no chances – but he and Jennings became bogged down as the scoring rate slowed significantly during the afternoon.

Jennings took 133 balls over his innings of 52 before he became the first to depart at 123-1, chasing an outswinger from James Harris and nicking it behind.

With Davies unlikely to bat, Lancashire sent Brooke Guest in at three and he made a shaky start with a series of edges that fell just short or wide of the slip cordon.

Guest survived to make 17, but he was to be the first of two victims in quick succession for Murtagh (2-23), missing a delivery that came back and took his leg stump.

Lancashire’s progress appeared to have been checked when Glenn Maxwell (1) followed, playing on to Murtagh in his next over to leave them 152-3.

However, Rob Jones (55*) kept Hameed company after tea while he advanced to his ton, reaching that landmark in style by hooking Roland-Jones into the grandstand for six.

It was Middlesex skipper Dawid Malan who eventually ended Hameed’s innings, diving to take a smart return catch off his own bowling.

But Jones went on to pass his half-century and he and captain Dane Vilas (19*) had added 36 by the time bad light ended play.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Haseeb Hameed delivered a timely reminder to the Test selectors with his first century since 2016 as Lancashire moved into a first-innings lead against Middlesex on day two at Lord’s.

The knock of a young man who's been watching Burns and Jennings on telly all winter

[themaclad]

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Lord's (day three):
Middlesex 265 & 68-2: Robson 41*, Eskinazi 25; Anderson 1-8
Lancashire 427: Jones 122, Hameed 117, Vilas 68; Murtagh 5-69
Lancashire (6 pts) lead Middlesex (3 pts) by 94 runs
Scorecard
A century by Rob Jones ensured Lancashire compiled a healthy lead against Middlesex to give themselves every chance of forcing victory.

Jones survived being hit on the helmet by James Harris to score 122 from 235 balls in a total of 427.

A rain-affected day also saw Dane Vilas make 67 to help amass a first-innings lead of 162 as Tim Murtagh took 5-69.

Middlesex lost Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi before reaching 68-2 at stumps, still 94 runs behind.

James Anderson had Gubbins caught for a duck five balls into the hosts' second innings before Graham Onions trapped Eskinazi leg before in the penultimate over of an extended day.

[themaclad]

Glenn is the man

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Lord's (day four):
Middlesex 265 & 200: Robson 63, Malan 51; Maxwell 5-40
Lancashire 427 & 39-3: Hameed 13*; Robson 2-4
Lancashire (22 pts) beat Middlesex (3 pts) by 7 wickets
Scorecard
Glenn Maxwell's five-wicket haul secured victory for Lancashire against a stubborn Middlesex side at Lord's.

The Australian Ashes hopeful claimed five of Middlesex's final six second-innings wickets as the home side finally succumbed for 200.

Opener Sam Robson led the Middlesex resistance with 63 before falling to England paceman James Anderson (3-29).

Lancashire were set 39 to win, with Haseeb Hameed adding to his first-innings century by guiding them home.

After beginning the final day on 63-2, Middlesex lost their next two wickets on 116 with James Harris (20) and Robson falling in successive overs to Josh Bohannon and Anderson.

Dawid Malan (51) and Max Holden (7) took them to 146 but both fell victim to Maxwell's off spin.

He saw off the tail despite wicketkeeper John Simpson surviving 67 balls for his 17 before being bowled by the Australian, who finished with 5-40.

Lancashire lost England opener Keaton Jennings for eight, Brooke Guest for 11 and Maxwell for five, with Robson's occasional spin claiming two victims.

But they got home comfortably to open their season with a seven-wicket win thanks to Hameed (13 not out) and Rob Jones (1 not out).

[themaclad]

Lancashire v Worcetershire Old Trafford 17/4/2019 RLC

Hopefully we will give this competition a decent go this season after barely being bothered in the last couple of season, given it's being down graded to a developmental competition next season involving the Minor Counties seems a waste. Originally started in 1963 the competition began as the Gillette Cup and has given us some memorable moments in it's various guises over the years, having won it several times although seems a long time since we last did.
Going back to 1971 though the night finish against Gloucester will never be forgotten
That wonderful cricketer Mike Procter bowling in the dark with a wrong foot approach to the crease and a 30 yards run up and John Mortimore being blasted into outer space by David Hughes, seems like a sad end to a competition which ha thrilled throughout teh years by hey youngsters of today lack concentration so the new 100 ball joke is being brought in for the want it instant generation. Criminal.

[themaclad]

Worcestershire 367 all out Parkinson 5-51 centuries for Rutherford and Mitchell

[themaclad]

Lancashire all ou for 242, Jennings , Guest and Maxwell got themselves in and out easy in the end for Worcestershire, next up Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Watched Lancs bat online saw now have the full set of defeats on Telly, Radio, Live and now online my lifes works is now complete