Middlesex’s Steven Finn was delighted to deliver a matchwinning spell in their County Championship clash against Lancashire at Lord’s.

England seamer Finn finished with 8-79 as the visitors were dismissed for 184, clinching a vital 36-run victory for the 2016 champions.

And after recording his best-ever bowling figures at Lord’s the 28-year-old said: “It was a big, big game for the club and we came into it really needing the points.

“That (102-run) partnership on the first day between Toby Roland-Jones and Ollie Rayner really set up the game for us to get a competitive total and what transpired to be the biggest score of the match.

“With only three bowlers did it was important we all stood up and bowl out overs. We stuck to our plans and that paid dividends.

“It was about time I did something for the boys this season. I felt I bowled pretty consistently and my pace was up there throughout the match.”

Lancashire started the third day on 46-1 in pursuit of 222 for victory, but lost three wickets for just 13 runs in the opening half-hour of play.

Young opening batsman Hasseb Hameed was forced to retire hurt with a hand injury, but returned to the crease when the ninth Lancashire wicket went down.

And he was left unbeaten on 23 when Finn dismissed last man Matthew Parkinson to wrap up his side’s win.

Lancashire captain Steven Croft said: “It was a disappointing result for us but a good game for the fans.

“We came here still looking for second spot, we can’t win it but we still want to be second-best and we never like losing games.

“Scoring 221 in the last innings was a tough ask on that pitch and I don’t think we got the rub of the green in terms of the surface or the decisions, but it was an uphill task.

“We gave it a right good go though, so losing was tough to take.”