Match Centre

MATCH ABANDONED ON DAY THREE

Upon arriving at the ground in the morning, the umpires have announced that they have little option but to abandon the game with immediate effect.

Heavy overnight rain, persistent rain all morning, and the rain radar showing plenty more rain throughout the day, they were sadly left with little option.

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MATCH REPORT - DAY TWO STUMPS

Following a post lunch inspection, the umpires announced that play would be abandoned for the day without a ball being bowled.

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MATCH REPORT - DAY TWO LUNCH

We've had no play at all this morning, as firstly drizzly rain, which then turned into heavy rain, has been falling all morning at Merchant Taylors' School.

At the request of the umpires the covers have remained firmly in place all day and the forecast looks no better on the radar sadly for the rest of the day.

The players took lunch on time, and the umpires will inspect afterwards, to make a decision on the prospects of play.

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MATCH REPORT - DAY ONE STUMPS

Middlesex 367 for 4 (Robson and Eskinazi retired)

The resumption of play in the evening session saw Middlesex's Australian overseas signing Hilton Cartwright join Eskinazi at the crease, as Sam Robson took the tea interval as his signal to retire unbeaten on 134.

Eskinazi continued to build his innings, however having been sat padded up in the pavilion for 63 overs, Cartwright was undone with the first ball he faced, falling to spinner Subramanyan for a golden duck. Not his day, but there'll be plenty more to look forward to from the young Australian no doubt.

With John Simpson now with him at the crease, who was playing watchfully, Eskinazi brought up a well earned century in the 82nd over of the innings and went on to retire one short of Robson's score on 134 in the 93rd over with the score on 312 for 2, to make way for Robbie White, who was making his first eleven debut for the club.

Simpson (42*) and White (30*) saw things through to stumps on day one with Middlesex in a dominant position, ending the day on 367 for 4

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MATCH REPORT - DAY ONE TEA

Middlesex 244 for 1

Resuming on 87 for 1 after lunch the Middlesex top-order pairing of Robson and Eskinazi carried on the hard work they’d put in before the break and continued to build their partnership at Merchant Taylors’ against Durham MCCU.

It took Robson just twelve balls after the interval to bring up a well-earned half century, as he continued to dominate the bowlers with his commanding presence at the crease, cutting anything with width and keeping the backward square and fine leg fielders busy playing late and scoring freely off his hips to anything down the leg side.

The pair continued to build together and brought up their century partnership in the 44th over, before Eskinazi followed Robson's lead in bringing up his half century in the 46th over off 83 balls, in an innings that more than matched Robson’s for composure and patience.

With the pair picking up the pace, Robson converted his half to a century in the 64th over with a crunching pull through mid-wicket off Subramanyan, bringing up his hundred off 204 balls.

Dominating proceedings the pair were cutting loose as their partnership continued to build, and they took it to a double century in the 73rd over of the innings, with Robson on 127 and Eskinazi 84.

Tea arrived with the score on 244 for 1, with Middlesex in complete control, with Robson on 135 and Eskinazi on 90 - both unbeaten, with Hilton Cartwright next man in and watching on patiently from the pavilion.

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MATCH REPORT - DAY ONE LUNCH

Middlesex 87 for 1

Middlesex made a steady start to their opening match of the 2018 season against Durham MCCU at Merchant Taylors' School this morning, reaching 87 for 1 at the lunch interval on day one.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Middlesex skipper Sam Robson was joined by Max Holden at the crease, and the pair got the innings off to a slow yet safe start, taking singles where they could, as the University side bowled with control and discipline in the early stages of the morning session.

It was attritional stuff at times, with the Middlesex pair digging deep and taking what they could, although with the score on 24 in the sixteenth over, Holden fell to a ball from Cooke, edging to MacDonnell in the slip cordon for 11.

Robson was joined by Eskinazi in the middle, and as the sun broke through conditions noticeably improved.

Robson looked assured and confident as he moved through the gears, pushing past forty as the lunch interval approached, with Eskinazi at the other end proving to be the more aggressive of the pair, including despatching MacDonnell for a huge maximum.

As the players left the field for lunch, Robson had amassed an impressive 45 and Eskinazi a solid 26.