Specsavers County Championship Division Two
Venue: Lord's
Duration: 4 days
CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY FOUR
Result - Match Drawn
Middlesex 6 points
Glamorgan 8 points
There was no play possible on the fourth and final day at Lord's, where heavy rain and overcast skies, and prolonged rain forecast for the remainder of the day, gave the umpires little choice but to abandon the game at lunch.
CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY THREE
Glamorgan 38 for 4
Middlesex's Stephen Eskinazi stood tall on a day of otherwise clattering wickets in the Specsavers County Championship match against Glamorgan at Lord’s.
While all others, with the possible exception of John Simpson, struggled to put bat to ball, the South African-born right-hander plundered 16 boundaries in scoring 94 at more than a run a ball.
The fact his efforts were not enough to raise a batting point for the hosts was largely down to a five wicket-haul for Glamorgan skipper Michael Hogan, ably supported by Tim Van Der Gugten (4-63) who after having Eskinazi caught behind, ran through the Middlesex tail.
Tim Murtagh conjured up a trademark spell of 4-12 from the Nursery End to leave Glamorgan floundering at 38-4 in reply before the bad light and then rain which has dogged the fixture from day one returned to drive the players off at 3:30pm.
After the washout on day two, play began promptly and Hogan was soon among the wickets, removing Hilton Cartwright’s off-bail with a delivery to which the Australian international offered no shot. He would strike again four overs later when Paul Stirling nicked a good ball to wicketkeeper Chris Cooke.
Eskinazi, who’d struck five boundaries on the first day, continued untroubled, his eighth four taking him to 50 from 58 balls. Just back from missing two games through illness he became the first member of Middlesex’s top six to reach a half century in the Championship this season.
As if in celebration, he then hit Lukas Carey for three fours in the following over. Wicketkeeper Simpson caught the mood, playing some similarly aggressive shots and the hosts had real momentum when bad light intervened with the score on 152-5.
The 25-minute delay worked in Glamorgan’s favour when shortly after the restart Eskinazi chased a wide one from Van der Gugten to depart six short of what would have been a wonderful hundred. Nevertheless, in these conditions his was an outstanding effort.
Shorn of their mainstay Middlesex subsided quickly either side of lunch, especially after Simson edged Van der Gugten to Nick Selman in the slips.
Fittingly Hogan (5-49), Glamorgan’s standout bowler grabbed the final wicket, getting Murtagh for a duck as Middlesex fell six short of a precious batting point.
Murtagh though soon took centre-stage with the ball, conjuring just sufficient seam and swing to leave Glamorgan’s batsmen in a lather.
Jack Murphy and Shaun Marsh were both trapped LBW before Selman, earlier struck on the head by a bouncer from debutant Tom Barber, was bowled by one which went between bat and pad.
The very next ball, an out-swinge,r found the edge of Aneurin Donald’s bat and was pouched by Simpson leaving Murtagh on a hat-trick which Cooke negotiated before the weather closed in.
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TEA - DAY THREE
Glamorgan 38 for 4
A mesmerizing spell from Tim Murtagh saw Middlesex wrestle the advantage from Glamorgan in a truncated second session on Day three at Lord’s.
The Irish international produced a trademark stint from the Nursery End, first trapping Jack Murphy in front before a similar swinging delivery pinned Shaun Marsh LBW.
Even better followed when Nick Selman, who’d earlier survived a blow on the head from Middlesex debutant Tom Barber, was bowled by one which nipped through the gate.
A gorgeous out-swinger next ball saw Aneurin Donald nick to wicketkeeper John Simpson and though Chris Cooke survived the hat-trick ball Glamorgan were reeling at 38-4 when bad light brought an early tea.
The wickets were compensation for the hosts missing out on a batting bonus point after being dismissed for 194 shortly after lunch, Glamorgan skipper Michael Hogan completing a fine five-wicket haul.
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LUNCH - DAY THREE
Middlesex 193 for 8
Stephen Eskinazi led a Middlesex counter-attack in a rain-shortened first session on day three of their Specsavers County Championship match with Glamorgan at Lord’s.
The South African-born right-hander became the first member of the home side’s top six to score a Championship half-century this season, reaching the landmark with his eighth boundary.
Eskinazi celebrated in style, hitting Lukas Carey for three fours in the following over in reaching 84 before rain intervened.
Sadly, for the hosts, he fell shortly after the resumption fencing at a wide one from Timm Van Der Gugten (3-63) to fall six short of a well-deserved hundred.
Simpson (38) who’d added 60 with Eskinazi fell to a catch at slip off the same bowler and Tom Helm was strangled out down the leg-side off the last ball before lunch.
Michael Hogan (4-48) had earlier removed Hilton Cartwright and Paul Stirling cheaply, but thanks to Eskinazi Middlesex are in sight of a precious batting bonus point on 193-8.
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CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY TWO
Middlesex 64 for 3
Middlesex and Glamorgan will have to try again tomorrow after day two of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at Lord’s was abandoned without a ball bowled.
The sixth inspection of the day at 5pm proved the death knell for hopes of play, the outfield having stubbornly refused to dry following the morning’s rain.
With more rain forecast for day four on Monday both sides will hope to bank some bonus points tomorrow ahead of what looks an inevitable draw.
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TEA - DAY TWO
Middlesex 64 for 3
The wait for play on day two between Middlesex and Glamorgan at Lord’s goes on.
Two further inspections by umpires Ian Gould and Rob Bailey, the second at 3pm lasting almost half an hour, resulted in an early tea being called at 3:30pm with a view to inspecting again at 4pm.
A combination of the wet outfield and the murky light appear to be the causes of concern and it remains to be seen if any play will prove possible.
So far, only 16.1 overs have been bowled in the match with hosts Middlesex marooned on their overnight score of 64-3.
Match Reports provided by ECB Reporters Network.LUNCH - DAY TWO
Middlesex 64 for 3
GLAMORGAN’s quest for further wickets was frustrated by the weather early on day two of their Specsavers County Championship fixture with Middlesex at Lord’s.
After two inspections, with light but persistent rain still falling, umpires Ian Gould and Rob Bailey decided there would be no play prior to an early lunch at 12:30pm, after which a further inspection would be undertaken at 1:10pm.
The forecast for the afternoon is more promising, so Glamorgan skipper Michael Hogan will still hope to add to the one bonus point the visitors secured on day one.
Match Reports provided by ECB Reporters Network.CLOSE OF PLAY - DAY ONE
Middlesex 64 for 3
Glamorgan captain Michael Hogan picked up two wickets to give his side the edge against Middlesex on a rain-shortened first day at Lord’s.
Hogan got rid of his opposite number Dawid Malan, as well as opener Sam Robson, as Middlesex fought their way to 64-3 after being put in to bat.
Only one over was bowled before the rain intervened – and in all the weather allowed Glamorgan to send down a total of 16.1 overs in the day.
Lukas Carey, who bowled unchanged from the Pavilion End, made the initial breakthrough for the Welsh side by having Max Holden (7) caught behind.
Sam Robson had seemed well-set as he carved two boundaries through the off side to reach 17 – but he became Hogan’s first victim, prodding at one that bowled him through the gate.
Malan, playing his first innings of the county season, got off the mark with a leg glance for four but added just one more before he drove at Hogan and was caught at second slip just after lunch.
However, Stephen Eskinazi – also returning to the Middlesex line-up after illness – looked in good nick and hit Hogan for successive fours to reach 31 not out before the rain returned.
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TEA - DAY ONE
Middlesex 64 for 3
Middlesex captain Dawid Malan’s first knock of the season proved to be a brief one as he managed just five against Glamorgan at Lord’s.
Malan was caught at second slip in the third over after lunch, driving at opposite number Michael Hogan as Middlesex slumped to 58-3.
Hogan had earlier picked up the wicket of Sam Robson for 17, while Max Holden (7) was the other Middlesex batsman to depart, caught behind off Lukas Carey.
Rain restricted the morning session to 12 overs and only 25 deliveries were bowled in the afternoon before the heavens opened for a second time.
Middlesex’s Stevie Eskinazi found some rhythm during that brief period, moving on to 31 not out from 36 balls.
Match Reports provided by ECB Reporters Network.LUNCH - DAY ONE
Middlesex - 46 for 2
Glamorgan’s bowlers gave their side the upper hand on a rain-affected first morning of their Specsavers County Championship clash against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Visiting skipper Michael Hogan put the home side in, but only a single over could be bowled before rain held up play for more than an hour.
However, Lukas Carey soon found some movement from the Pavilion End and made the initial breakthrough by having Max Holden (7) caught behind.
Sam Robson (17) carved successive boundaries on the off-side before Hogan brought himself on and pierced the Middlesex opener’s defences with only his second ball.
Stephen Eskinazi (14*) and Dawid Malan (4*) saw the home side through to lunch at 46-2.
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