DAY THREE STUMPS: MIDDLESEX 467-3; HAMPSHIRE 131 & 100-4
Just 17 overs of play were possible on the third day of Middlesex’s Championship match with Hampshire at Merchant Taylor’s School due to a combination of rain and bad light.
The entire first two sessions were washed out, with play only getting underway at 4pm. 65 minutes later, the players were off again, with the light having worsened.
Middlesex, with captain Adam Voges limited in which bowling options he could use due to the murky light, took one of the seven Hampshire wickets they require for victory, with Liam Dawson gloving a lifter from Tim Murtagh to gully, where Sam Robson took a fine low catch.
Murtagh, as ever, made a habit of beating the outside edge as Voges kept plenty of fielders behind the wick. Former Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams weathered a testing spell from Murtagh and James Franklin - the only seamers available to Voges with Toby Roland-Jones and James Fuller too quick for the light, looking in good touch to moving to 48.
Adams played some fine drives off the seamers and cuts off spinners Ollie Rayner and Paul Stirling as the light deteriorated, men gathered round the bat and the ball began to spit.
He was joined by debutant Joe Weatherley, who battled to reach four from 36 deliveries before the players left the field with Hampshire 100-4. At 5.55pm, stumps were called.
Middlesex return on Wednesday, when more inclement weather is forecast after lunch, requiring six more wickets for their first win of the season after an utterly dominant first two days.
Centuries for Dawid Malan, Adam Voges and John Simpson set up a total of 467-3 declared, before outstanding bowling from Murtagh and Roland-Jones, who shared eight first innings wickets, saw Hampshire follow-on, bowled out for 131, before closing the third day three down for 64.
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DAY THREE TEA: MDDLESEX 467-3D; HAMPSHIRE 131 & 62-3
The whole of the first two sessions of the third day between Middlesex and Hampshire at Merchant Taylors' School was lost to rain and an early tea called at 3.10pm.
By then, the rain had stopped and the mop-up was underway, with home for play later in the day. A further inspection will take place after the interval.
Middlesex, chasing their first win of the season, are in an exceedingly strong position in the match, after centuries for Dawid Malan, Adam Voges and John Simpson saw them declare their first innings three down for 467, before Hampshire were invited to follow on having been skittled for just 131, with Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones sharing eight wickets. Hampshire finished the second day three down for 62.
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DAY THREE LUNCH: MDDLESEX 467-3D; HAMPSHIRE 131 & 62-3
The whole of the first session of the third day between Middlesex and Hampshire at Merchant Taylor’s School was lost to rain and an early lunch called.
There is some optimism that the rain will pass in time for play later on the third day.
Middlesex, chasing their first win of the season, are in an exceedingly strong position in the match, after centuries for Dawid Malan, Adam Voges and John Simpson saw them declare their first innings three down for 467, before Hampshire were invited to follow on having been skittled for just 131, with Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones sharing eight wickets. Hampshire finished the second day three down for 62.
