Hollman steadies Middlesex after Anderson strikes on Lancashire return

Luke Hollman made an unbeaten 54 to guide Middlesex to 139-3 after James Anderson struck twice on his return for Lancashire in their County Championship Division Two match at Northwood. According to a BBC Sport report supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network, only 39 overs were possible on the opening day at Merchant Taylors' School because of rain and bad light.

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Anderson was playing for the first time in two months after a calf problem. The 44-year-old finished with figures of 2-30 and increased his County Championship tally for the season to 40 wickets. Lancashire, who had yet to bat by the close, collected one point from the shortened day while Middlesex finished without a point.

Middlesex won the toss at 10:45am and chose to bat, but morning rain delayed the start of their innings until 2:10pm. Hollman, opening for the second successive match, began positively and twice drove Anderson for four. The Lancashire captain soon found a response, dismissing Sam Robson when the former England batter inside-edged onto his off stump.

Anderson struck again in his next over, bowling Max Holden for a duck with a delivery that moved back off the seam between bat and pad. Hollman and Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy then steadied the innings, moving the score forward largely through boundaries and putting together a stand of 72. Du Plooy hit three cover drives for four and pulled Ben Walkden over mid-wicket.

That partnership ended shortly before tea when du Plooy was caught at slip after driving at a full delivery from George Balderson. Hollman answered with three consecutive boundaries through the covers before the interval. He completed the 10th half-century of his first-class career soon after play resumed, reaching the landmark with 11 fours.

Anderson returned for another spell after tea, but Hollman and Ben Geddes resisted as Middlesex recovered from the two early setbacks. Geddes drove fluently through the covers, and the fourth-wicket pair were approaching a fifty partnership when bad light stopped play for the final time. Hollman remained on 54, leaving the match finely placed after weather prevented either side from establishing a decisive first-day advantage.