SAM ROBSON’S first halfcentury for over two months helped Middlesex set up a tantalising final day in their LV= County Championship Division One relegation decider against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The England opener made 75 as Middlesex established a lead of 114 with six secondinnings wickets in hand.

Chris Rogers’ side were 202 for four when bad light ended play eight overs early after Lancashire had earlier declared on 302 for eight, Glen Chapple applying the closure immediately once he had secured a third batting bonus point.

Lancashire must win the game to avoid relegation.

Any other result will ensure Middlesex’s survival.

The first hour of the morning’s play was as tense as county cricket gets. Lancashire resumed on 259 for six, needing 41 runs off 14 overs without losing three wickets to gain the three-bonus-point advantage they required going into the second half of the match.

Tim Murtagh struck early blows for Middlesex when he had Luke Procter lbw for 42 and Simon Kerrigan lbw for nought. That left Lancashire on 271 for nine, with 9.3 overs left in which to gain that vital bonus point. If another wicket had fallen, the home side would have been relegated.

Both Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones bowled accurately and well but a edged boundary and a pushed three by number 10 Tom Bailey edged Lancashire closer to their target. A succession of scurried singles followed and seven were still needed off the final over. Astonishingly, Chapple struck Roland- Jones’ first delivery over midwicket for six and pushed the second for three.

The Lancashire skipper then declared with that bonus point secure and his team’s survival hopes still alive.