Lancashire opt for safety first

Lancashire 236 and 128 for 1 (Chilton 47*, Loye 31*) lead Middlesex 338 (Strauss 95) by 26 runs
Scorecard

Lancashire's batting today had spine, but their decision to go off for bad light did not. By taking an early shower at 128 for 1, 26 runs ahead, they jeopardised their chances of pursuing victory on the final day.

Not that the entire Middlesex team were overjoyed at the decision, either. Chad Keegan had just had Loye edging wide of second slip and he looked desolate as the players trooped off, lingering mournfully at the top of his run-up until a team-mate put an arm round and led him back to the pavilion.

Keegan is one of the two players who has put his heart and soul into this game. He came to the wicket at 294 for 7 this morning. The sun had made a rare visit, but false shots had robbed Middlesex of the two men they would have hoped to capitalise and take them to a large lead. First Andrew Strauss, five shy of his century, inside-edged one ball from Chapple past his stumps then edged the next to the keeper as he shaped to cut it. Then Lance Klusener, whose one-handed hook for six off Cork looked like the start of something special, fell limply, caught at point.

But Keegan provided an innings that was another good advertisement for his character, to run next to his bowling and his zesty fielding at gully. His 26 off 37 balls was full of confidence, including a boisterous four over long-on that clattered into the boundary boards immediately under the home dressing-room. With Paul Hutchison alongside, they dragged the Middlesex lead up towards 100. Hayward provided some good old-fashioned No. 11 entertainment. He twice fell on his backside before his habit of stepping away from the crease inevitably led to the loss of his middle and off stumps.

The other man whose personality has permeated the match is Dominic Cork. He and Glen Chapple bowled unchanged throughout the morning, a total of 24 overs between them. Cork cherishes his position at the centre of Lancashire's attack; where once were the tantrums of a prima donna, now he is determined to grab and hold the attention and respect of his team-mates. His first wicket of the day was won on the basis of his theatricals alone - a slanting delivery on a journey past leg stump caught Nash's pad and Cork's premature jubilations had a mesmeric appeal on the umpire's finger, which seemed to raise in spite of its owner.

The last time Cork had taken a Championship seven-for was, coincidentally, against his new team; more astonishingly, it was nine years ago. Here, like his Middlesex opposite number Keegan, he harried the batsmen with short stuff, then goaded them into false shots - including Keegan who, along with the rest of the ground, heard the fatally hollow sound of his bat flat-hitting the ball before watching it return easily into the bowler's hands.

Lancashire's reply was obstinate rather than spirited; Mark Chilton played carefully to reach 47 not out at the close of play, while Ian Sutcliffe and then Mal Loye provided a sprinkling of strokes on either side of the wicket. Chilton's lack of urgency is a compliment to Middlesex - Lancashire have met their match at Lord's and will be happy to return north with a draw.