Date-stamped : 11 Sep96 - 16:59 ===================================>Day 1 Batting crumbles on suspect pitch By Brian Bearshaw at Old Trafford First day of four: Lancashire (175-7) lead Middlesex (160) by 15 runs WHEN Middlesex last played at Old Trafford two years ago, 21 wickets had fallen by lunch on the second day and Lancashire had 25 points deducted for an unsuitable pitch after winning handsomely. This time 17 fell in the day on the same pitch that was used for the one-day international on Thursday. The umpires reported the pitch as poor during the tea interval and the Inspector of Pitches will again be making his way to Manchester this morning. The spinners must have thought they were in heaven. Mike Watkinson took five for 15, his best figures of the season, when Middlesex were bowled out inside 54 overs. Phil Tufnell took four for 42 as Lancashire battled to get their noses in front. But there were some pretty poor shots, two in a Middlesex innings which capitulated from a healthy 139 for three soon after lunch to 160 all out in 12 overs. The best partnership came from Mike Gatting and John Carr who put on 73 for the fourth wicket, Gatting top-scoring with 40 before being enticed from his crease and stumped to become the first victim for 22-year-old wicketkeeper Jamie Haynes, Bristol- born, Australia-educated. Haynes was standing in for Warren Hegg, one of four regular first-teamers nursing a variety of aches and pains, with Saturday`s NatWest final in mind. Lancashire sailed past 100 with one wicket down but once Tufnell had broken through, Lancashire lost five wickets for 32. Lancashire have offered to release Nick Speak, 29, from his contract. Speak, who has a batting average of nearly 40, has had limited first-team opportunity. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph ===================================>Day 2 Lancs trial by Tufnell By Brian Bearshaw at Old Trafford Second day of four: Lancs (262 & 2-3) need 128 runs to bt Middx (160 & 231) AN IMPRESSIVE innings of 83 from Keith Brown kept Lancashire at bay for three hours on a spinners` pitch which came under the scrutiny of Harry Brind, the TCCB`s pitches inspector. When Brown joined his captain Mike Gatting at the wicket Middlesex were 60 for four, still 42 behind. Gatting`s contribution was 50 but Middlesex were bowled out for 231 to leave Lancashire a victory target of 130. But with Lancashire dramatically losing three wickets in the four overs to the close, the stage was set for a thrilling climax today. Lancashire`s remaining three first innings wickets had resisted for 80 minutes and 87 runs in the morning with opener Steve Titchard eighth out for 67. Off-spinner Mike Watkinson claimed four of the first five Middlesex wickets, but at a cost of 104 runs, for a match return of nine for 119. Lancashire, left with an awkward 15 minutes, lost Titchard, Jason Gallian and John Crawley all for ducks. Two fell to the jubilant Tufnell who could well prove a match winner today. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph ===================================>Day 3 Tufnell seven breaks Lancs By Brian Bearshaw at Old Trafford Middlesex (160 & 231) bt Lancs (262 & 106) by 23 runs A MAGNIFICENT piece of bowling by left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell wrecked the remains of Lancashire`s batting and carried Middlesex to an exciting and worthy victory. His seven for 49 in the second innings gave him a match return of 13 for 123, the best figures in his 11-year career. And among his victims yesterday was the England captain, Mike Atherton, lbw without playing a shot. Atherton must have been impressed, even taking into account a pitch which had been reported to Lord`s and which provided considerable help to the spinners from the first morning. The condition of the wicket has resulted in a warning from the TCCB that if another pitch is assessed poor in the next 12 months they will forfeit 10 points. Tufnell took five of the seven wickets still standing when Lancashire resumed needing 128 more to win after losing three prime wickets for two runs the previous evening. He was quickly in action, making a ball lift and turn sharply for wicketkeeper Keith Brown to take a catch on his back at the second attempt to dismiss Mike Watkinson. Atherton quickly followed and at 42 for five Lancashire were left with only one recognised batsman, Graham Lloyd, who showed a variety of shots, including a reverse sweep, in scoring 42 before Richard Johnson made the ball cut back to take the bails. MICHAEL Atherton was yesterday re-appointed England captain for this winter`s tours to Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The Lancashire batsman has led his country 35 times since taking over in 1983 and celebrated a 2-1 Texaco Trophy series victory over Pakistan earlier this week. Atherton, 28, will lead England in five Tests this winter, leaving him just one adrift of Peter May`s record 41 appearances as England captain. He will equal that in the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia at Edgbaston next summer, providing he is reappointed. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)