Middlesex make Lancs bowlers toil

Umpires Paul Baldwin and Nick Cook decided to take an early lunch, from 12.45pm, and to inspect conditions again afterwards.

Middlesex were due to resume their first innings on 419 for 5 in reply to Lancashire’s 513, with Nick Gubbins on 201 not out and Paul Stirling unbeaten on two.

With the weather forecast poor for the rest of the day, however, and with the match seemingly a stalemate anyway, the overwhelming odds were on hands being shaken on a draw sometime in the afternoon.

Earlier, it had been hard work for all the Lancashire bowlers.

Kyle Jarvis and Neil Wagner found no joy in a slow, lifeless surface.