Middlesex secure first win of the season
With 10 men in a squeezed inner ring, the skies quickly darkening and Stuart Broad springing in from the pavilion end, elbows scissoring, Middlesex scrambled to their first win of the season with just an over to spare. After rain had washed out play until 3.30, it had been a bold declaration by the Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney, setting Middlesex 249 to chase in 40 overs.
Suddenly thrown into a short-form thrash, Middlesex’s batters seem freed from the pressures that have pressed in on them in Division One. Pieter Malan and Max Holden both stroked their way to exhilarating fifties, for the first time this year. The promoted Stevie Eskinazi cover-drove Broad’s second ball for four and Stoneman flamed him into the Grandstand for six, but Broad continued to throw everything at Middlesex, finishing with three wickets.
Kasey Aldridge saved the day for Somerset at Taunton with a mature maiden first-class half-century to deny Lancashire. Somerset had quickly slipped from 41 for 0 to 53 for three in the morning session, to James Anderson and Tom Bailey, the ship steadied by forties from Tom Abell and James Rew who took advantage of some uncharacteristically messy Lancashire fielding. But it was the unbroken partnership of 87 between Aldridge and Lewis Gregory that took Somerset to handshakes, resolute even against a last-chance new ball in the hands of Anderson.
Worcestershire can polish their collective lucky pennies after escaping with a damp draw in what will remembered as Tom Price’s match. Gloucestershire threw themselves into the morning, adding 54 in ten overs before declaring. Marchant de Lange burned up the grass, sending down five overs of heady hostility which had Jack Haynes caught for a duck and cracked Brett D’Oliveira so viciously on the hand that he retired hurt. There was time for Tom Price to take two more wickets to add to his maiden hundred and hat-trick in the first innings, before the rain rescued Worcestershire from 51-4.
The weather also eased Glamorgan to a damp draw against Durham at Sophia Gardens, after they were made to follow-on despite a second hundred of the season from the impressive Kiran Carlson.
Yorkshire were denied a first victory of the season at Hove, the rain washing out the game against Sussex with just 68 runs needed. Otis Gibson confirmed that Jonny Bairstow would play in the second XI match against Nottinghamshire, to check on his fitness both in the field and behind the stumps. Rain also washed out the game at Canterbury, where Zac Crawley’s 170 lit up Saturday.
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It’s been fun! A fabulous win for Middlesex, a sporting declaration from Notts. I’m heading home – till Thursday, goodnight!
