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Sheffield United are expected to face some competition should they reignite their interest in Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, according to Sheffield Star journalist James Shield.

Which clubs want to sign Glen Kamara?

The Finland international is set to leave Rangers this summer, after falling out of favour with under new manager Micheal Beale, who recently suggested that the midfielder has "been around here too long" and that the club "will probably sell him this summer".

Kamara has received a lot of interest from Ligue 1 sides in the past 12 months, with a proposed £10m move to OGC Nice on the September deadline last season falling through, whilst Nantes have registered interest in the 27-year-old ahead of this summer window.

Sheffield United were interested in the midfielder during their last Premier League campaign under former manager Chris Wilder, however, budgetary restrictions prevented a move from materializing, however with the player's value falling to just €6m (£5.1m) interest could be reignited ahead of their return to the top-flight.

The former Finland 'Player of the Year' has also been identified as a target for Turkish giants Besiktas and Super Lig champions Galatasaray, according to reports, who will be competing in next year's edition of the Champions League.

Would Glen Kamara be a good signing for Sheffield United?

As previously mentioned, Kamara was a player that the Blades considered signing during the 2020/21 campaign, and with the majority of the same recruitment staff in place at the club, it is very much a possibility that the midfielder, who has been lauded as an "aggressive" player in the past by journalist Josh Bunting, could be considered by the club again.

The Gers no.18 produced the worst season of his career in the past campaign according to WhoScored, with an average rating of 6.46 across 22 appearances in the league making him the lowest-ranking player in the squad which started over ten games this season.

The 5 foot 11 central midfielder suffered an injury-ridden season by his standards this campaign, missing just under a month's worth of football due to first a knee injury and then an ankle problem a month and a half later. That issue occurred around the time Beale was appointed and stopped the Finland international from breaking into the new manager's team.

The 27-year-old dynamo had enjoyed two stellar campaigns before this season, averaging a 6.90 rating in the 2020/21 campaign before recording a 6.96 average rating in the 2021/22 season, showcasing that the midfielder has the quality, but wasn't able to showcase it this year for a variety of factors.

As Sheffield United prepare for their first campaign back, the signing of Kamara could prove to be a very shrewd piece of business by manager Paul Heckingbottom.

Temba Bavuma and Stephen Cook acknowledged the WACA’s similarity to the pitch back home at the Wanderers, where they represent the Lions

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-20161:56

Wanderers experience will help at WACA – Cook

The joke is that South Africans feel more at home in Perth than some Australians. With an estimated 30,000 of their countrymen permanently settled in the city, and its distance from the rest of Australia’s cities, you can understand why. South African batsmen Stephen Cook and Temba Bavuma also have reason to feel like they belong at the WACA, but it’s got more to do with where they come from.They play their cricket at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, which Cook said was “probably the one ground in the world that’s similar to Perth in terms of pace and bounce.” While the WACA has lost some of its bite and the Wanderers has been known to produce run-fests, especially in limited-overs cricket, the surfaces remain spicy enough to keep bowlers interested.Batsmen need familiarity to be properly equipped on such pitches and Cook, whose domestic career is more than a decade and a half old, said he had more than enough. “I think it will stand me in good stead and I will try to take a few of the lessons I’ve learnt in my career and translate them into playing here,” Cook said.Bavuma only has half of Cook’s experience but more than three times his number of Tests caps and is just as eager to show what he can do on a seamer-friendly strip. “Judging by the nets, it’s quite similar to the Wanderers. Here the bounce is a bit exaggerated. That’s a challenge I am looking forward to,” he said.But both will need major improvements on what they have showed on tour so far if they are to match their talk with action. The pair are the only two in the top seven who have not scored at least a half-century in South Africa’s two warm-up matches.Cook managed just 5 and 12 in the first one, a day-night practice match, and got a duck in the second. Bavuma fared slightly better with scores of 11, 21 and 43. On South Africa A’s winter tour to Australia earlier this year, Cook scored only 58 runs in four innings – two of them were ducks – while Bavuma scored 51 in that series, with a top score of 21.Those numbers are not reassuring, but Cook insisted they were not a cause for concern. “I haven’t scored that many runs since I’ve been here but I’m not too perturbed by that. Things were pretty good in a couple of domestic games back home and I’ve felt like I’ve been in decent touch,” he said, referring to an unbeaten 97 in the first-class season opener between the Lions and Cobras at the Wanderers.Stephen Cook was confident that failures in the warm-up games will not affect his Test performances•Getty Images”We all hit the ground running when it gets to the real stuff. Sometimes a lot gets read into practice games and situations like that but I’ve played this game for long enough to know that there’s no direct correlation between the two.”Bavuma also has recent form to fall back on. On his ODI debut against Ireland, batting as an opener, he scored a century and showed an ability to shift gears, which he knows could be called on in the Tests.”Where I bat in the middle order you generally have to be able to play the situation,” Bavuma said. “There will be moments in the series where you have to take the attack to the opposition. It’s about me being able to recognise those moments and adjust.”Bavuma has already showed an ability to adapt to pressure. He is the first black African batsman to play Test cricket for South Africa and as such, carries the hopes of a nation. He accepts that. If that was not enough, at 1.67 metres (5’5″) he has since been asked if he also considers himself an ambassador for the vertically challenged as well. He isn’t entirely sure of the answer but he knows that he could be seen as a novelty and that means expectation on him will grow with each game.”It’s a pressure I am trying to embrace and take in my stride. I want to improve and better myself all the time,” Bavuma said.At 33, so does Cook. Schooled alongside former South African captain Graeme Smith, Cook has waited almost half his life to play for South Africa and with time not on his side, he wants to make the most of every match.”My first Test was a dream, but as cricketers we’re never satisfied. You get a taste for something and you want more. This is an iconic series. It’s been a series in which a lot of players’ and a lot of teams’ careers have been defined. Therein lies another wonderful opportunity for us as a team. It’s for me as an individual to make my stamp and put my mark on it.”Cook watched as JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis prospered on previous Australian tours and saw two people “of similar age and and who I grew up playing cricket against, go from guys who were maybe not that well known, to guys who put in big performances under pressure.”Neither Cook, nor Bavuma are well-known yet. But they have put in performances under pressure at the Wanderers. Now they have to do it at the WACA.

Newcastle United are set to step up their pursuit of Fenerbahce midfielder Arda Guler ahead of a potential summer switch to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Arda Guler?

Guler is an academy graduate of the Super Lig outfit having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first-team back in 2021, and he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of Jorge Jesus’ side, making 50 senior appearances to date.

The Turkey international still has another two years to run on his contract, but after emerging as his side’s second overall best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.28, he’s been highlighted as a summer target by Eddie Howe.

Football Insider report that the Magpies held a meeting with the 18-year-old and his family last month in Dubai and that get-together must have gone positively because Turkish Football have claimed that PIF are preparing an offer to bring him to St. James’ Park.

Are Newcastle signing Guler?

According to Football Insider once again, Newcastle are now "intensifying their efforts" to sign Guler ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season. The Magpies view the midfielder as a "future star in the making" and he's also been attracting other interest from Barcelona and Ajax, while Fenerbahce are "desperate" to retain his services.

Despite competition, the northeast outfit are believed to be "confident of an agreement" following their successful meeting in May. The teenager "fits the profile" of what the manager is looking for, so this could be one to watch in the weeks ahead.

Newcastle pursuing Guler will be more of a long-term recruitment considering that he’s still only 18 years of age, but having already shown bags of his potential which has seen him labelled the “new Ozil” by GOAL editor Tom Maston, he would be an exciting signing for the future of the club.

The Europa League participant, who is left-footed, is naturally an attacking midfielder and has posted eight goal contributions (four goals and the same number of assists) in 20 Super Lig appearances last season, with this form having seen him take him four man-of-the-match awards.

Guler, who pockets £9k-per-week, is also a versatile operator with his ability to be deployed in seven various positions across the pitch, including three in the midfield and all across the frontline, so he would be a fantastic option for the manager to have at his disposal.

Chris Dent and David Payne saved Gloucestershire’s blushes on the first day of their final County Championship game of the season against Sussex

ECB Reporters Network20-Sep-2016
ScorecardChris Dent ensured Gloucestershire did not subside•Getty ImagesChris Dent and David Payne saved Gloucestershire’s blushes on the first day of their final County Championship game of the season against Sussex.Dent batted through the day, showing terrific resilience on a wicket that provided the visiting bowlers with plenty of lateral movement, but did not get any meaningful support until Payne walked to the crease at 97 for 7.The pair then peeled off an unbroken 104-run stand for the eighth wicket as Gloucestershire reached 201 for 7.Sussex were content to field first and made up for a delayed start by taking three Gloucestershire wickets inside 15 overs.Chris Jordan bowled Gareth Roderick in the sixth over before Steve Magoffin added 19-year-old debutant James Bracey, two overs later, and Ollie Robinson bowled George Hankins to leave the hosts 12 for 3 in the 15th over.Hamish Marshall, in his last game for the county he has represented so well for the past 10 years, provided temporary resistance, but eventually perished, lbw to Magoffin for 14.Boundaries were hard to come by and though Phil Mustard hit an early four through extra cover, it was to be his only scoring shot. Magoffin, with his tail up, found an outside edge and Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown took the catch.At 42 for 5, Sussex must have felt they would be batting sooner rather than later.However, the indomitable Dent stuck to his task and despite losing sixth-wicket partner Jack Taylor cheaply, he joined forces with Craig Miles and then Payne, to guide Gloucestershire towards a total that at one stage, looked nothing more than a pipe dream.Miles helped himself to 20 before falling to a smart leg-side catch by Brown off Jofra Archer, and thereafter Dent reached his fifty, with seven fours.Better known for taking wickets than scoring runs, Payne played sensibly at the opposite end and having reached tea, on 143 for 7, Gloucestershire increased the tempo in the final session with Dent finishing the day unbeaten on 86 and Payne 48 not out.When bad light forced the players off, with 28 overs of the day remaining, the eighth-wicket pair had not only taken the score through the 200 barrier, but had posted their century stand in less than 23 overs.

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is closing in on a move to Manchester City this summer, according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Kovacic expected to leave Chelsea?

The Blues suffered a hugely disappointing season in the Premier League, finishing 12th in the division, which almost nobody could have predicted back in August. A combination of managerial issues, poor individual performances and iffy signings all played a part in the struggles, and huge improvements are needed in 2023/24.

Kovacic is one of many players who has fallen a long way below his top level, with his displays often lacking the influence they have had in the past. Injuries also prevented him to just 17 starts in the league, and he couldn't do enough to prevent some very mediocre days at the office for Chelsea.

The £100,000-a-week Croatian is out of contract at Stamford Bridge this time next year, meaning this summer is the last chance to earn a fee for his services. A move to City has been strongly mooted in recent days and it now looks like it is a matter of time until he heads there.

Are Man City close to signing Kovacic?

Writing on Twitter on Thursday, Romano claimed that personal terms are almost agreed between Kovacic and City, with his move to the Premier League champions now feeling like a formality:

"More on Mateo Kovacic and Manchester City news revealed yesterday. Been told the agreement on the personal terms between Kovacic and City is really close, almost completed. Man City and Chelsea will be in direct contact to discuss the fee. Kovacic will leave."

Losing Kovacic has both plus and minus points, with the 29-year-old clearly a talented footballer, having won the Champions League during his time with Chelsea. He is also a 93-cap Croatian international, which says a huge amount about his quality and longevity, while his class in midfield is undeniable.

That being said, he has really struggled over the past 12 months, and there could be an argument to say that they are selling him a little bit past his peak, at a time when it makes more sense to receive money now, rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.

Kovacic could easily excel for City, given his intelligence and ability to keep possession in tight areas – he enjoyed a 90.8% pass completion rate for Croatia at the 2022 World Cup – but now could be the right time for Chelsea to allow him to leave.

Pakistan have risen to No. 1 in the Test rankings for the first time. They have taken over the top position from India, following India’s washout against West Indies in Trinidad

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-20161:27

Pakistan’s journey to the top

Pakistan have risen to No. 1 in the ICC’s Test rankings for the first time. They took the top position from India, following India’s washed out Test against West Indies in Trinidad.The ICC Test table

1 Pakistan (111 rating points)
2 India (110)
3 Australia (108)
4 England (108)
5 New Zealand (99)
6 Sri Lanka (95)
7 South Africa (92)
8 West Indies (67)
9 Bangladesh (57)
10 Zimbabwe (8)

Pakistan had moved to No. 2 on the table last week, after drawing the Test series in England 2-2 and after Australia were whitewashed 3-0 in Sri Lanka. At the same time, India had moved to No. 1 after beating West Indies in the St Lucia Test to go 2-0 up in their four-match series; they needed to win the final Test, in Trinidad, to hold on to No. 1, but the match was drawn after weather and outfield issues forced play to be abandoned over four days.Last week was the second time in less than a year that Pakistan had moved to No. 2 on the rankings – the highest they had previously been since the current rankings system was put in place in 2003. They had featured at No. 2 for the first time in November 2015, after beating England 2-0 in the UAE.Their rise to No. 1 was built on the back of a run of unbeaten Test series since August 2014, when they were down at No. 6. Apart from the successes against England, they had also beaten Sri Lanka 2-1 in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh 1-0 in Bangladesh, and whitewashed Australia 2-0 in the UAE. Against New Zealand in the UAE in November 2014, the series during which Phillip Hughes died in Sydney, they had drawn 1-1.Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said he was “proud” to have his team at the top, but his focus remained on delivering consistently good performances going forward. “There is no greater feeling than to achieve the No. 1 ranking in the most traditional and purest format of the sport,” Misbah said. “This is what cricketers play for and want to achieve in their careers. It is a reward for something we had planned as a group a few years ago and have worked extremely hard to achieve it.”I want to compliment everyone who has been involved in the process, including all the players, the support personnel, the management, as well as our loyal fans and followers who remained committed to us and continued to back and support the side through the good and not-so-good days.”For us, the No. 1 ranking is not a destination but part of a journey. Our long-term objective and strategy is to remain competitive, continue to challenge the top sides with good cricket and once again become the most followed side like the Pakistan teams of yesteryears.”PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, much like former coach Waqar Younis, said credit for Pakistan’s achievement should go to Misbah. “The ascension to the top of the ICC Test rankings culminates an incredible journey for Pakistan,” Khan said. “This is a historic moment in our rich Test cricket history and the credit for this great achievement goes not only to this team but to all… coaches and support staff members who have represented Pakistan in recent years. Misbah-ul-Haq deserves special credit for his leadership through six crucial years.”The No. 1 rank has changed hands several times in 2016. In January, India took over from South Africa after South Africa were defeated 0-2 by England at home. In February, Australia climbed to No. 1 following their 2-0 win in New Zealand. They gave No. 1 back to India following their recent 0-3 loss in Sri Lanka, and then came India’s handover to Pakistan.The ICC’s ranking system takes into account matches played over the previous four years, with the oldest matches in the cycle being dropped every May. For the current cycle, matches played from May 2013 to April 2015 carry 50% weightage, while matches played since then carry 100% weightage. In May 2017, matches played between May 2013 and April 2014 will be dropped from the calculations, and those between May 2015 and April 2016 will have their weightage reduced to 50%.

Leeds United now look destined for the Championship as only a remarkable set of results will keep them in the Premier League when the final day comes around on Sunday.

Following the defeat against West Ham United last weekend, which was coupled with Leicester City and Everton earning draws away from home, only a win against Tottenham Hotspur will be enough to keep the Yorkshire outfit up, with their relegation rivals also needing to drop points against West Ham and Bournemouth respectively.

Therefore, Leeds will soon have to start prepping for life back in the Championship, with a number of first-team players perhaps likely to have already played their last games for the club.

One man who looks destined to depart Elland Road, despite having tarnished his reputation in recent months, is 23-year-old goalkeeper, Illan Meslier.

Has Meslier played his last Leeds game?

Leeds boast the worst defensive record in the Premier League and following a series of mistakes ahead of Sam Allardyce's arrival, the experienced Englishman has dropped Meslier for each of the three top-flight fixtures thus far.

Things haven't really improved with Joel Robles in goal, with the Spaniard conceding seven in three games against West Ham, Newcastle United and Manchester City, which means the Yorkshire outfit have shipped 74 in total this campaign.

Meslier, who earns £30k-per-week, was criticised by Jamie Carragher for having "no presence" earlier in the year and Allardyce clearly agreed, as the youngster lost his number one spot for the first time since Leeds were promoted back to the Premier League.

It has already been widely reported that the Frenchman will leave for pastures new this summer should the Whites go down, with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs all linked with signing him, which suggests that if he remains on the bench for the final day, he may well have appeared for the last time in Leeds colours.

It must be remembered that, while Leeds fans are probably lamenting his performances in a disappointing season, he has also made a number of impressive saves in his time in between the sticks and has won a number of points with his shot-stopping ability, which saw him dubbed a "rare talent" by the Athletic's Phil Hay in 2021.

While he may be error-prone, he is still only 23 and became the youngest goalkeeper to reach 100 Premier League appearances, so clearly has a lot of potential and it will be disappointing to see him leave.

However, Allardyce will presumably stick by his decision to drop him on the final day, which suggests that Leeds fans may never see him play for the club again, as a summer exit is well and truly on the cards.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Mauricio Pochettino wants to target Premier League-proven transfers for Chelsea this summer.

Who does Mauricio Pochettino want to sign for Chelsea?

With the season nearly done, the Blues can soon finally put this dreadful season behind them and start looking to the future.

The first step of this will be saying goodbye to interim boss Frank Lampard and welcoming Pochettino to Stamford Bridge – as he is expected to officially arrive in June.

While there has been plenty of talk already about how he will need to trim the bloated squad by offloading a number of unwanted first-team members, the 51-year-old will also have spoken with Todd Boehly and co about incomings too.

And it seems as though Premier League players will be on the agenda for Chelsea this summer. Indeed, in a recent interview with GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs revealed his understanding of the latest behind-the-scenes in West London.

The insider told GMS: “The other thing that Pochettino has emphasised is that Premier League proven quality is really important.

“I think that's significant because if you look at Chelsea's recruitment throughout the last two windows, it's been a bit scattergun.

“We can expect that from the first summer because of the new ownership and Thomas Tuchel pushing for certain things.

“But then the January window, although there was a strategy, was very much youth based. They weren't afraid to bring in players from all over the world.

“Malo Gusto came in from Lyon, Andre Santos the Brazilian, and Enzo Fernandez from Argentina. They signed Mudryk, who had played in the Champions League, but again had no Premier League experience.”

How does Pochettino make his teams fit?

At the end of January, Boehly had signed 16 players during his time in charge of Chelsea up to that point for a total of £556m. Of that bunch, only five – Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – had played in the Premier League before.

With the consequential lack of cohesion on the pitch this term, you can see why Pochettino will be keen to adopt a different approach in the upcoming window.

Along that line of thinking, it's interesting to note that fellow Argentine Emi Martinez has been linked by The Mirror with a move from Aston Villa to the Blues – although Manchester United are also in that race.

No doubt more players will be reported as targets in the coming weeks and months but it does seem as though Poch will have a preference for those already in England and it might not be the worst idea in the world.

Mauricio Pochettino has a history of finding gems, as during his time at Spurs he managed to sign the likes of Son Heung-min, Victor Wanyama, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld for very respectable prices.

Gloucestershire’s seamers bowled them to a 61-run County Championship win over Division Two leaders Essex at Cheltenham.

ECB Reporters Network16-Jul-2016
ScorecardCraig Miles completed a split-innings hat-trick•Getty ImagesGloucestershire’s seamers bowled them to a 61-run County Championship win over Division Two leaders Essex at Cheltenham.Starting out on 16 for 1, requiring a further 197 for victory, the visitors crashed to 152 all out by early afternoon, with Liam Norwell, David Payne and Craig Miles all profiting from the overcast conditions.Norwell claimed four wickets in the innings, while Payne and Miles took three each, maintaining an exemplary line and length to put constant pressure on the batsmen.The result catapulted Gloucestershire into the promotion race as they took 21 points to the six earned by Essex. They now trail the leaders by only 11 points, with a game in hand.Norwell removed nightwatchman Jamie Porter with the first ball of the day, Gareth Roderick holding a thin edge at the second attempt, and followed up by having Tom Westley caught at first slip for 17 before left-armer Payne pinned Nick Browne lbw, pushing forward.Miles then claimed a split-innings hat-trick when bowling Ravi Bopara for 3, shouldering arms, with his first ball of the day, having also struck with his final two deliveries of the first innings.He followed up by dismissing Dan Lawrence, who drove a catch to extra cover and Ryan ten Doeschate, caught behind, in a six-over spell of 3 for 26.”My dad had mentioned to me that I was on a hat-trick after the first innings and Hamish Marshall reminded me before I ran in to bowl my first ball today,” Miles said. “I gave it everything and it was a great feeling, whether it was spread over a few overs or not. I’ve never taken a hat-trick in any form of cricket.”The ball I took the last wicket with is the one I get to keep and have mounted. But it was a real team effort by the bowlers. Liam Norwell and David Payne probably deserve a ball each too.”Essex did their best to be positive, but the quality of the bowling, with the ball swinging and seaming off the pitch, allowed Gloucestershire to dominate the morning session.James Foster pulled Norwell for a defiant six in the final over before lunch, but then edged a wide delivery through to wicketkeeper Roderick and departed for 7.That left Essex 124 for 8 at lunch, still requiring 89 runs, with spots of rain in the air. The afternoon session saw only one run added before Graham Napier edged a defensive shot off Payne to give Roderick his fourth catch.Ashar Zaidi smacked Norwell for a six over wide long-on, but the following ball saw the left-hander, on 37, get an inside edge onto his stumps and it was all over at just before 2.15pm.That gave Norwell 4 for 65 from 16.3 overs, while Payne finished with 3 for 40 and Miles on his lunch figures of 3 for 26. It was a high class bowling effort on a day Essex began as favourites.

On a dead Lord’s track, the Championship leaders have got themselves into a position where they almost certainly cannot lose

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Lord's27-Jun-2016
ScorecardAlviro Petersen racked up 191•Getty ImagesWhat ingredients there were for a high-quality encounter at Lord’s look already to be heading for a bland conclusion. That may seem melodramatic – should Middlesex collapse tomorrow, it may enter into “misguided” or “facetious” – but there were few other conclusions to draw from a day in which eight wickets fell yet only one was taken.Lancashire’s seven were shed in the pursuit of quick runs to hammer a tiring Middlesex attack further into the dust. Even Tim Murtagh’s shoulders, constantly in a slumped relaxed state, plummeted to knee height. Even Murtagh, a bowler who can make the ball talk for fun could barely muster a whimper from a pitch that does the long-form more harm than good.What should have been a compelling day’s cricket, in near-perfect conditions, asked spectators to find their own source of amusement. The evening session hosted a low sun and with it the chance for them to shed some clothing, get some colour and indulge in the sorts of conversations with opposing fans that only beer and minor heatstroke encourages.”So you see, it’s those bastards across the way – they’re the tight ones,” concluded one such tête-à-tête. It’s those across the way that Lancashire are looking to build a lead over: level on points with Yorkshire going into this match but leading Division One by virtue of number of games won.Middlesex, with their six draws from seven, sat 16 points off the Northern rivals. This fixture between first and fourth felt like it could set the tone for the next half of the season, when captains roll the dice and each session weighs heavier on the nerves.The opening exchanges were very much in Lancashire’s favour as they amassed their highest innings score of the season. Alviro Petersen was thoroughly unflustered, picking up where he left off to add 86 to an overnight 105: perhaps the only surprise was his failure to bring up his double hundred. Looking to move the game on, he was caught and bowled by Toby Roland-Jones, whose 31-over toil was made relatively worthwhile by four wickets.Flanking Petersen were the offerings from the middle order cavalry of Steven Croft, Karl Brown and Liam Livingstone. It was with Livingstone in particular that the most damage was done: 103 runs put on together at six an over – 67 coming in 11 overs after lunch, as Livingstone brought up a 54-ball half-century filled with reverse sweeps and the odd wristy thwack through the leg side. To nitpick, 500 perhaps should have come up easier than it did: a scampered single between Lancashire’s 10 and 11 that nearly resulted in a run out.But even with scoreboard pressure and a 12-over session before tea bowled by Kyle Jarvis and Neil Wagner – perhaps the best opening duo in the domestic game at present – Lancashire were unable to land a telling blow on the hosts. Even the one wicket they managed looked a tad lucky, though that is simply going by Sam Robson’s forlorn expression after he had been adjudged caught at first slip off the leg spin of Matt Parkinson. The disappointment was understandable: he had looked on the cusp of one of those Lord’s vigils he embarks upon when he basically invokes squatter’s rights.If anything, Robson’s wicket sharpened Nick Gubbins’ focus, who gave up driving for a while and worked his way to 71 at the close. He will recommence tomorrow with Stevie Eskinasi, who goes to bed on a new first class best of 43.Lancashire will be hoping that when they wake up tomorrow the pitch might too. Unfortunately this is yet another Lord’s track that needs a defibrillator rather than a roller. The new ball brings something out of it but not for long. From then on, whatever movement there is comes once the ball had passed the stumps. Steven Croft found that out the hard way as he scrabbled around to contend with the late dips and swerves. The skip in his step at the start of the final session had slowed to a trudge when stumps was called.If anything, perhaps the Lancashire bowlers might leave the match with a bit of sympathy for their Middlesex counterparts, whose charge has consistently been hampered by these sorts of pitches. Still, the Championship leaders have got themselves into a position where they almost certainly cannot lose. If they are not still bowling by this time tomorrow then they should consider that a victory.