Match Centre

MATCH REPORT | WORCESTERSHIRE V MIDDLESEX

Match report provided by the ECB Reporters Network.

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DAY THREE

Middlesex are on the verge of clinching promotion to Division One of the LV=Insurance County Championship after century-maker Steve Eskinazi, John Simpson and Pieter Malan played major roles in them securing maximum batting points against Worcestershire at New Road.

A boundary by Eskinazi off Ed Barnard ensured the 400 run mark was achieved with 10 balls to spare of the 110 overs permitted for bonus points.

The efforts of the trio earned their side a first innings lead of – with Simpson becoming the first Middlesex keeper-batter to complete 1,000 first class runs in a season since Keith Brown in 1991.

With only a draw required to secure a top two spot, it will require something of extra-ordinary proportions on the final day to prevent the champagne corks from popping tomorrow afternoon after they obtained a lead of 284.

Simpson joined Mark Stoneman from earlier in the game in achieving four figures this summer with Max Holden (749) and Sam Robson (708) also making significant contributions with the bat.

On the bowling front, Toby Roland-Jones has been a magnificent leader of the attack at the age of 34 with his season’s best haul of 67 victims and with power to add on the final day of the season.

But Tim Murtagh (30), Tom Helm (29) and Ethan Bamber (25) have also provided invaluable support.

After a mid-season wobble of five games without a win, Middlesex recaptured the successful formula in four-day cricket in defeating Glamorgan and Leicestershire and dominating the opening three days at New Road.

For Worcestershire, the highlight of the day was Gareth Roderick’s six catches, equalling the most in an innings by one of their players in Championship cricket.

But, apart from Dillon Pennington, whose two wickets took his tally for the season to 44, their bowlers were unable to bowl a sufficiently consistent line and length to apply pressure.

Middlesex resumed on 146-2 and added only nine runs before Josh Tongue made the first breakthrough as Holden (44) nibbled at a ball which left him and keeper Roderick held onto a low catch.

There was a considerable amount of playing and missing in the opening half hour and a delay as the transfers on Eskinazi’s bat were leaving marks on the ball.

But the visitors gradually began to flourish with Malan’s straight drive for four off Barnard one of the most eye-catching strokes as the first batting point was secured in the 62^nd over.

Malan had scored 141 and 77 not out for Warwickshire in a Championship match on the same ground last summer and looked well set for another century.

But on 93 there was little he could do about a ball of extra bounce from Matthew Waite which cut back into him and he nicked through to Roderick.

His excellent 182 ball knock contained one six and 17 fours.

Simpson needed 53 more runs to complete 1,000 in a campaign for the first time and batted with typically aggressive intent from the start.

He and Eskinazi eased Middlesex past the Worcestershire total and batting began to look slightly more easier.

Their half century stand occupied only 11 overs and Worcestershire Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, brought himself into the attack for the first spin of the match.

The second new ball was taken at 275-4 but runs continued to flow and Eskinazi pulled Tongue for his 10^th boundary to complete a 104 ball half century.

Simpson went to the same mark with a four to third man, also off Tongue, and a cover drive off the same bowler took him to the 1,000 mark in the campaign.

He then planted Waite over mid wicket for six and looked set for a fourth hundred of the season but on 92 he was bowled behind his legs by Ben Gibbon.

Simpson struck one six and 13 fours in his 121 ball innings and added 157 in 37 overs with Eskinazi.

Eskinazi, the leading scorer last month in the Royal London Cup with 658 at an average of 94.00, was not to be denied and cut Gibbon for two to complete a 179 ball hundred with 16 fours.

Roderick held onto a fine catch running back from behind the wicket to dismiss Ryan Higgins from the last ball before tea by Barnard.

The all-important 400 milestone was reached when Eskinazi flicked Barnard to fine leg.

Luke Hollman (9) gave Roderick another scalp off Waite and then catch number six for the keeper away to his left finally accounted for Eskinazi on 115 on Pennington’s return to the attack.

Jake Libby had a rare bowl and dismissed Ethan Bamber and Tim Murtagh but Roland-Jones enjoyed himself with some late hitting in his 58 ball fifty as he brought up the 500.

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DAY TWO

Pieter Malan struck a timely unbeaten half century to help promotion-chasing Middlesex seize the initiative on a truncated second day of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter with Worcestershire at New Road.

Malan had contributed scores of 0, 8 and 2 during the wins earlier this month over Glamorgan and Leicestershire which had reignited Middlesex’s push for a top two spot.

But the South African batter demonstrated the form which had brought him one hundred and four fifties in the Royal London Cup.

He steered his side to 146 for two from 44 overs after they had bowled Worcestershire out for 225.

Malan brought up his half century in the grand manner with a six off Ed Barnard and by the close had moved onto 68 from 135 balls.

Middlesex still need a maximum of 16 points to ensure promotion after their rivals Glamorgan claimed maximum batting points against Sussex at Hove.

Worcestershire resumed on 167-8 and some clean hitting from Josh Tongue was largely responsible for them reaching 225 all out in 82.5 overs.

The pace bowler ended unbeaten on 39 after hitting a career best 45 not out in the previous game against Nottinghamshire.

Tongue square cut and on drove Tim Murtagh for boundaries and pulled Ryan Higgins for another four.

He had one slice of luck on 28 when dropped at extra cover off Ryan Higgins.

Dillon Pennington helped him add 45 for the ninth wicket before he was lbw to Higgins after working to leg.

Toby Roland-Jones wrapped up the innings with his fourth wicket when having Ben Gibbon caught behind.

He finished with 4-50 to take his wicket tally for the season to 67.

When Middlesex batted Pennington gave Worcestershire the perfect start when Sam Robson played on without a run on the board.

It should have become 10-2 after Mark Stoneman edged a delivery from Gibbon but the chance was put down by Jack Haynes at second slip.

Stoneman went onto complete 1,000 first class runs in a campaign for the sixth time when he reached 11.

Worcestershire struggled to bowl the right line and Stoneman and Pieter Malan brought up the 50 in only 10.4 overs.

But runs were harder to come by after lunch and Tongue, on his way back to full match fitness after 14 months out of action with a shoulder problem, made the second breakthrough.

Stoneman on 36 tried to get his hands out of the way of a delivery of extra bounce and gloved through to keeper Gareth Roderick.

Malan looked in good touch and collected a series of boundaries off Ed Barnard although he was fortunate to inside the all-rounder for four.

He brought up his 91 ball half century in the grand manner with a pull for six off Barnard over backward square leg.

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DAY ONE

Toby Roland-Jones picked up three wickets to take his first-class tally to a personal best of 66 in a season as promotion-chasing Middlesex established control on day one of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Worcestershire at New Road.

The former England pace bowler exploited ideal conditions for seam bowling as he moved past his previous most productive haul of 64 victims in 2012.

He received excellent support from Middlesex captain, Tim Murtagh, and Ryan Higgins as Worcestershire were reduced to 167-8 on a day shortened to 68.5 overs by rain and bad light.

It enabled visitors to collect two of the maximum haul of 16 points needed to ensure promotion to Division One.

Worcestershire Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, dug in for three and a quarter hours for a fighting 44.

Both teams and coaches formed a guard of honour before the start of play for umpire Nick Cook who is officiating in his final game before retirement.

Murtagh, won an important toss and put the home side into bat on a greenish pitch used previously for the Championship match with Sussex in April.

The veteran seamer then struck with the first delivery of the game.

Ed Pollock had been Worcestershire’s match winner against Middlesex earlier in the season with 113 off 77 balls at Merchant Taylor’s School.w

But he was instantly undone by a ball of extra bounce after pushing forward and edged through to keeper John Simpson.

Murtagh and Roland-Jones skilfully exploited the sideways movement and variable bounce and there was plenty of playing and missing from Jake Libby and new batter, Jack Haynes.

Libby (4) was lbw to an inswinging ball of full length from Roland-Jones.

Haynes produced the first aggressive shots of the day in off driving and pulling Roland-Jones for boundaries.

But it was primarily a battle for survival and Azhar Ali had scrapped away for one run off 33 balls before rain led to an early lunch with Worcestershire 26-2 off 16 overs.

The Pakistan Test player needed only three more balls to collect his first boundary with a straight drive off Ethan Bamber when play resumed at 1pm after an early lunch.

But Roland-Jones struck for the second time when Haynes (20) prodded at a delivery and found the hands of Sam Robson at second slip.

Azhar temporarily lifted the shackles with a cut and cover drive for boundaries after Ryan Higgins came into the attack.

But after surviving for two and a half hours he was leg before for 27 to a delivery from the same player which nipped back in.

Ed Barnard, in his final appearance for Worcestershire before joining Warwickshire, immediately looked in good touch.

The all-rounder profited from the cut shot with boundaries off Higgins and Ethan Bamber and he and Brett D’Oliveira steered Worcestershire to 113-4 off 51 overs by tea.

Two wickets in two overs after tea tipped the balance in Middlesex’s favour.

Barnard (28) was pouched at first slip after driving at Roland-Jones and Gareth

Roderick (0), who had scored centuries in his previous two knocks, was the victim of a sharp catch at short leg off Murtagh.

D’Oliveira continued to play in determined fashion but also produced some aggressive strokes and he collected two boundaries from handsome drives in a Murtagh over.

Matthew Waite, on loan from Yorkshire until he begins a three-year contract next summer, struck some useful blows before he inside edged a Higgins delivery onto the stumps.

D’Oliveira’s resistance was finally ended by Ethan Bamber with Robson collecting another chance at second slip shortly before the premature close at 5.10pm.