Match Centre

Day Three - Close of play

Result - Match Drawn

No play was possible again on day three due to a wet outfield, meaning our clash with Gloucestershire 2nd's was abandoned with the match resulting in a draw.

Day Two - Close of play

Gloucestershire Second XI 356/9

Sadly, no play was possible on day two of Middlesex's Second Eleven County Championship opener against Gloucestershire 2nd's due to rain, with play being abandoned after an inspection following an early lunch taken at 12.30pm.

Middlesex will look to claim the final wicket of the Gloucestershire innings early on day three at Uxbridge.

Day One - Close of play

Gloucestershire Second XI 356/9

Middlesex kicked off their Second Eleven County Championship campaign today at Uxbridge Sports Club against Gloucestershire, where the sun finally made an appearance for large parts of the day to ensure that 104 overs play were possible.

Losing the toss and being put into the field, Steven Finn, captaining the Middlesex side, was back in action, as was Nick Gubbins, both having a run out in this game after lengthy periods on the side-lines through injury.

Finn himself opened the bowling and looked in good order, bowling with good pace, rhythm and accuracy in the early part of the day. Whilst finishing wicket-less today, Finn was tight and miserly, going for just 15 runs from ten impressive overs, and he'll be all the better for getting those overs into his legs.

Ethan Bamber, zoned in on an off stump line from ball one, bowling with a nagging length and good pace throughout the day. he was rewarded with two wickets from the sixteen overs he delivered, whilst George Scott, Nathan Sowter and Max Holden picked up a wicket apiece.

The pick of the Middlesex bowlers today was undoubtedly Ravi Patel, who got good turn from the Pavilion End, picking up three wickets for 48 from his sixteen overs.

Gloucestershire made the most of a good batting surface to reach 130 for 2 at lunch, with Hankins and Cockbain mounting a recovery from 59 for 2 and both looking solid at the crease.

Both batsmen reached half centuries after lunch before Cockbain fell for a well worked 62, whilst Hankins carried on, nearing his century as the tea break came, with the players rushing off the field to the cover of the pavilion as a heavy rain shower blew in. At the tea interval the visitors had progressed to 247 for 4.

Hankins converted into three figures in the evening session, before becoming the fifth Gloucestershire wicket to fall, for a superb 116 with the visitors score on 296.

Four more wickets in the evening session kept Middlesex well in the game, although an unbeaten 82 from Gilmore helped steer Gloucestershire to 356 for 9 at the close, and he'll return to the crease tomorrow morning with number eleven Gregory, both looking to build on their overnight score of 356 for 9.