Advantage Middlesex as fitting finale looms

Lancashire 259 (Jones 106*, Livingstone 56, Bailey 53, Roland-Jones 4-54, Finn 4-71) and 80 for 1 drew with Middlesex 327 (Robson 77, Gubbins 69, Compton 56, Kerrigan 4-80, Jarvis 3-70) and 240 for 8 dec (Malan 87, Simpson 74, Kerrigan 6-86)Scorecard

And so it will not be settled – or anything like settled – for another week. A season in which Middlesex have led, Yorkshire have loomed and Somerset have scarcely been mentioned will end with the three counties covered by ten points. The world’s most famous cricket ground and one of the best in the land will together stage the final dramas of this late, late summer. What have we done to deserve this? Clearly, something good.

Any thoughts this game might end with a victory for either side were extinguished by the strength of both sides’ batting and the understandable conservatism of skippers who were content to take five points for the draw. Such a return leaves Middlesex nine points ahead of Yorkshire and ten clear of Somerset.

All the points permutations can wait for the back of an envelope and a double espresso. It is enough for the moment to say that if the leaders avoid losing to Yorkshire at Lord’s and Somerset fail to beat Nottinghamshire at Taunton, Middlesex will be champions and worthy ones. Their evisceration of Yorkshire on the last day at Scarborough proclaimed their quality. But the destination of the pennant far from …

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