County Championship: Max Holden’s century helps Middlesex fightback v Lancashire

Six such boundaries carried him past 50 and there would be seven more on the way to three figures, reached in style with an on-drive back past the stumps to the pavilion rope.

Fightbacks of course need co-conspirators and not for the first time, Ryan Higgins was first to come to Holden’s assistance. A classy pull shot in front of square got the all-rounder moving, and he then dispatched a couple of Luke Wells deliveries to the fence in the same over.

Bailey returned immediately after lunch as a game of patience unfolded, the two batters resisting his second surge, and a miserly spell from Will Williams, to raise the 100 partnership.

It required a fine delivery from George Balderson to castle Higgins with the hosts 14 in front, but Geddes, hailed this week by Richard Johnson as a player with a ‘high ceiling’, came in and after a shaky start he too blossomed, an off-drive through mid-wicket the pick of his early boundaries.

By tea the lead had swollen to 72 and the pair showed greater intent after the resumption to move the stand to 100 and beyond.

Geddes reached his half-century with five fours, before falling to the second new ball, though replays suggested he had not made contact with the delivery which found its way to Hurst’s gloves.

Nightwatchman Blake Cullen also perished before stumps, but Holden remains to try and steer Middlesex to a defendable total on day four.

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