Harris helps Middlesex to crucial point

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Close, day one: Middlesex 214 v Lancashire
Lancashire 3 pts, Middlesex 1 pt

The relegation trap door remains open to Middlesex despite the lower order edging them to the first of six bonus points needed to guarantee safety.

On the first day of the winner-takes-all showdown with Lancashire, most of the senior batsmen once again let Middlesex down as they were reduced to 134-7, with only Chris Rogers (33) and Joe Denly (38) making respectable scores.

James Harris proved the unlikely saviour, as he shared in stands of 36 with wicket-keeper John Simpson and 34 with number 11 Ravi Patel to drag Middlesex past the 200 mark to get a crucial batting point.

Bad light followed by showers prevented Lancashire from getting their reply underway. Middlesex need to prevent them from getting 350 in 110 overs to preserve their top flight status.

After the draw with Somerset last week, Middlesex came into this match knowing that if they avoided defeat again they would stay up.

But that prospect looked unlikely as they lost three wickets in the morning session and another four in the afternoon.

Sam Robson made only seven before he edged behind off 40-year-old skipper Glen Chapple, who used the conditions to his advantage and took 4-55.

Luke Proctor picked up the other two wickets to fall before lunch, Dawid Malan edging to slip for just five and Rogers being bowled for 33.

At 105-3, Middlesex had set a platform for recovery, with Denly ticking along nicely and Eoin Morgan bedding in.

But Denly was caught at slip off Chapple for 38 while Morgan scratched around for a 72-ball 25 before he was caught behind off Tom Bailey.

Proctoer then picked up two wickets in successive overs as Neil Dexter was caught for 17 and Toby Roland-Jones was trapped lbw without scoring, leaving Middlesex on 134-7.

Bad light forced the players off for an early tea and a brief rain interval followed, the break seemingly benefiting the visitors.

Simpson and Harris scored nine fours between them – more than the top three had put together – but their partnership was ended when Chapple had the wicket-keeper lbw for 23.

The veteran seamer then induced an edge from Tim Murtagh but just as it seemed Middlesex might cede three points to their relegation rivals, Harris (27 not out) and Patel (18), put on a final act of defiance to sneak them over the line.

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