Richard Sutcliffe: Willing on Lancashire for the good of the White Rose

Yesterday saw this proud Yorkshireman doing something that, until just a few days ago, would never have been countenanced.

Willing the Red Rose to prevail at anything is, usually, a distinct no-no. But these are desperate times, as the spectre of relegation hangs above Yorkshire’s cricketers in a similar vein to how the Father Time weather vane stares down across Lord’s from its all-seeing vantage point above the Mound Stand.

So, as Gary Ballance’s men looked to boost their own survival hopes 190 or so miles away at Headingley, reason and rivalry were put aside as I joined a smattering of folk unfortunate enough to be born on the dark side of the Pennines – including one chap sporting a fetching straw boater, complete with more red roses than can usually be seen on February 14 – in hoping Steven Croft’s men could build on an encouraging first day.

Typically, this ‘support’ from yours truly elicited only a Lancashire batting collapse in the morning. Five wickets fell inside just 17 overs as the Red Rose was skittled for 165, 68 runs adrift of the 2016 champions who replied with a second innings of 152.

By the close, Lancashire had knocked off 46 of the 221 required runs for the loss of opener Alex Davies. But, with the wicket continuing to offer plenty of encouragement to the bowlers, Middlesex remain favourites to claim a victory that will do Yorkshire no favours.

Contemplating that very point when leaving via the North Gate, those lacklustre morning efforts with the bat felt personal. Cricketing allegiances will not be loaned out, even temporarily, again.