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Sir James Anderson (44) and Toby Roland Jones (38) have a combined aged of 82. If they were a wine that makes them a 1944 vintage, which despite reduced production due to other distractions at the time, still produce some very fine wines, the most valuable of which, were you to buy it today would be the 1944 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) Richebourg. According to a most reputable wine trader it’s amber-coloured brightening at the rim is a sign of noble ageing. The colour is reminiscent of autumn leaves, but the clarity underlines that immaculate ageing. It offers a ballet of time and finesse on the palette and for the nose, a bouquet of transcendent complexity that breathes history. I’m not sure about the palates or noses of Jimmy and Rojo, but they represent the finest of cricketing vintages and whilst not Lords or Old Trafford, the hallowed grounds of Merchant Taylors’ school were a fitting stage for them to provide a taste of their seemingly timeless talents. On paper and on the pitch, Middlesex started Day 3 in a very strong position. 116 for 2 and a lead of 212 with two days left they had a perfect platform to extend that lead from the realms of challenging to impenetrable. Lancashire’s best hopes lay with the overcast conditions, the delayed start due to rain and the small matter of having the perfect attack weapon to exploit the conditions in James Anderson. If England’s finest, with 704 Test wickets to his name, could at the age of 44, use every ounce of his skill and experience to restrict that lead, all may be not be lost for the Red Roses. That said, it was back in the balmy days of May that they last earned a batting point, so confidence amongst their faithful was not high. Anderson strikes early for Lancashire With 88 overs optimistically due to be bowled, almost inevitably it was Jimmy Anderson who opened the bowling from the Benham End one hour after the scheduled start time. With the fourth ball of the morning, he struck to remove Ben Geddes, trapping him LBW and Middlesex were 120 for 3. Leus du Plooy struck a couple of sweet cover drives, but was next to fall bowled stepping back to George Balderson for 15, and within a heartbeat, Anderson struck again to have Holden caught at second slip. Middlesex had lost 3 wickets for 21 as the clouds hung heavily over Merchant Taylors’ and were 137 for 5, but they had extended the lead to 233. Yorkshire refugee Harry Duke had the temerity to strike a flurry of 4 fours off the venerable Anderson, two of which were aided by some distinctly modest fielding, but having taken the Middlesex lead to 250, he was bowled by Balderson. Anderson, perhaps irked by Duke’s effrontery, or just through his timeless wizardry, found Higgins’ edge to have him caught behind for just a single and Middlesex were seven down. It was eight and then nine in the next over, Gohar picking up a pair caught behind by Hurst off the rampant Balderson who trapped Tom Helm in front with his very next ball. It was noticeable too that Matty Hurst had now moved to standing up and breathing down the batter’s necks, a move very much in vogue. Roland – Jones dominates with the bat Roland-Jones averted the Balderson hat trick delivery by chipping just short of deep midwicket but elected not to run. However, a leg bye for four off the final ball of the over left number eleven Naavya Sharma to face Tom Bailey which he duly did. The RoJo game plan was clearly boundaries or nothing. A towering straight six off Balderson was followed by an attempted but unsuccessful ramp – a distinct rarity in the Roland–Jones play book as he continued to farm the strike. The wily Roland – Jones had taken himself to 37, Middlesex to 200 and a lead of 296 before he edged Ben Walkden behind, although the decision looked highly questionable. Lancashire had taken 8 wickets for 84 in the morning to stay in the hunt, but the 297 needed to win would be Lancashire’s highest ever fourth innings score to beat Middlesex, the highest successful first class run chase at Merchant Taylors, beating 238 by Worcestershire in 2022 and come close to the highest fourth innings score here too. Middlesex had struck that against Northants in 2023, falling just one short of victory in a thrilling draw. Balderson upstages old stager Anderson Anderson had bowled with predictable success for Lancashire with 3 for 56, but was upstaged by the 5 for 54 of George Balderson, his junior by 19 years. Keaton Jennings and Matty Hurst were able to negotiate a tricky couple of pre lunch overs to reach 6 without loss and send Lancashire on their way. More than once after lunch, Jennings and Hurst played and missed drawing very loud and confident appeals from Helm and Roland – Jones. But they survived and looked to be moving Lancashire along smoothly enough. Jennings particularly was looking assured, often taking large slide’s forward to both Middlesex bowlers. It was only when Higgins came on from the Lake End however, that Harry Duke stood up to the stumps. Luck and misfortune continued to haunt Middlesex, compounded by two dropped slip catches off Sharma and Higgins. Finally, however, Jennings offered a sharp bat pad chance to Geddes at short leg and Ryan Higgins had some reward for a naggingly accurate spell. One, as they say, brings two and Naavya Sharma found the edge of Harry Singh and Robson took a sharp chance at second slip. Sharma then emulated the efforts of Balderson earlier and Marcus Harris went first ball, edging to Helm at first slip. Two in Two for Sharma. Jennings and Hurst had put on the first 50 opening partnership of the season for Lancashire, but 57 for 1 had quickly become 64 for 3 and Middlesex had acquired a distinct spring in their step as tea approached. Lancashire rocking as Rocky Flintoff enters Rocky Flintoff was born five years after James Anderson made his Test debut and the 18 year old carries a considerable burden of expectation based on his parentage. Lancashire now found themselves needing him to live up to that. One thumping pull off Helm showed no lack of confidence from young Flintoff. Together with Hurst he took Lancashire to tea without further damage on 87 for 3, needing 210 to win. It did not take long after tea for Middlesex to strike again. And it was a vintage Roland-Jones delivery that got Flintoff lbw for 13. This opened the wicket flood gates that Lancashire had tried so hard to keep closed. The stubborn Hurst edged Helm to Geddes at slip for 38 before Helm struck again to claim Arav Shetty LBW. Roland-Jones had Ben Walkden edging behind and George Balderson lost his off stump to Helm. Lancashire had lost 3 wickets for no runs and 5 for 21 since tea. The timeless Roland-Jones showed athleticism in the deep that belied his dicky back history as he swooped to catch Tom Bailey off Helm, who in turn now had four. And so, with 9 down for Lancashire Sir Jimmy and Toby Roland-Jones were brought nose to nose. Sir James was in no mood to concede and perhaps recalling Cardiff in 2009. Noman Ali on the other hand swung at Higgins and who should be waiting at long on to take yet another tumbling catch? Of course, it was Toby Roland-Jones, leaving Sir James Anderson, perhaps fittingly, not out. Lancashire had collapsed to 136 all out and Middlesex had won by 160 runs. Middlesex will enjoy this victory, although possibly not with a 22,000 euro bottle of wine. Perhaps that might be there in the unlikely even that they defy very long odds to claim promotion.