BAD LIGHT ENDS PLAY 17 OVERS EARLY AS LANCS

MIDDLESEX'S four-man seam attack made the most of favourable conditions to put their side in a good position on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship match against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.

- ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay

Having opted to bowl first under cloudy skies, the visitors dismissed James Anderson's side for 201 in 67.1 overs.

In reply, though, Middlesex struggled to 38 for two at the close before bad light ended play 17 overs early.

Both wickets were taken by Anderson in a five-over spell and the visiting batsmen will surely not relish facing Lancashire's attack on the second morning.

Ryan Higgins took three for 48 in the home side's innings and Toby Roland Jones's three for 45 included the vital wickets of Marcus Harris and Keaton Jennings.

But this was very much a team effort by the Middlesex bowlers.

Seb Morgan, who finished with three for 41, and Naavya Sharma, 1-52, supported the new-ball attack superbly and Lancashire's only comfort came from Jennings's watchful 67 and Australian all-rounder, Chris Green, who made 35 in his first game of the season before he was last man out, bowled by Morgan