STUMPS DAY TWO: MIDDLESEX 207; WARWICKSHIRE 21-1
Jeetan Patel secured the 18th five-wicket haul of his first-class career as Warwickshire returned to form to dent Middlesex's challenge for runners-up spot in the LV=County Championship First Division.
The Bears needed to bounce back after a month which brought two resounding championship defeats, failure to qualify from the Royal London Cup group and a semi-final implosion in last Saturday's NatWestT20Blast Finals Day.
They did so with a disciplined bowling display after the match belatedly got underway following a first-day washout. All the bowlers took at least one wicket as Middlesex stuttered to 207 all out - plenty fewer than they envisaged when choosing to bat. Only Neil Dexter (53, 123 balls) and Paul Stirling (41, 51) resisted long.
After Keith Barker removed Stirling, Patel took advantage of the used pitch to advance to 45 championship wickets this year, moving level with Rikki Clarke and one ahead of Boyd Rankin as three Warwickshire bowlers close in on 50 for the season.
A total of 207 is meagre, though Middlesex struck early when Warwickshire replied - the home side closed on 21 for one - and will hope to benefit from bowling last on the pitch on which T20 Finals Day was played last Saturday.
Middlesex galloped to 50 in 12 overs but then lost six wickets for 62 runs in 29.3 overs. Stirling hit seven fours but no-one else in the top order contributed much. Sam Robson fell lbw to Rikki Clarke and, after Stirling edged Barker to second slip, a double bowling change paid off handsomely.
Rankin's sixth ball dismissed Dawid Malan, caught-behind for seven, and Patel's second trapped Nick Compton lbw for 18. James Franklin eked eight runs from 38 balls before he was bowled by former New Zealand team-mate Patel. When Barker trapped John Simpson lbw, Middlesex were 114 for six.
Dexter and Ollie Rayner added 51 before the latter steered Chris Wright to slip. Dexter gritted his way to his 30th first-class half-century but departed to a smart catch by Varun Chopra at leg-slip off Patel. James Harris bat-padded the Kiwi to short leg before last pair Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh added 22 to at least secure their team one batting point.
When Warwickshire embarked on ten overs batting before the close, Middlesex turned to spin for the fourth and Rayner's first ball had Ian Westwood caught by wicketkeeper Simpson. This match may well yield a decisive result despite the loss of the entire first day.
-----------
TEA DAY TWO: MIDDLESEX 171-7*
Middlesex's surprise decision to bat backfired as they reached tea on 171 for seven on the second day of their LV=County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
After a first day washout, the visitors hit trouble against a swinging ball impressively wielded by a Bears seam unit led by Keith Barker.
Resuming after lunch on 82 for four, Middlesex soon lost captain James Franklin, bowled by fellow Kiwi Jeetan Patel for a laborious eight (38 balls). Barker, who earlier bowled an excellent new-ball spell, then returned to trap John Simpson lbw.
Neil Dexter and Ollie Rayner dug in to add 51 before the latter steered Chris Wright to Varun Chopra at slip. Dexter reached the interval unbeaten on 50 (103 balls) having been dropped by Jonathan Trott at deep mid-wicket off Patel on 26.
Middlesex had started at a gallop, racing to 50 in 12 overs, before losing four wickets for 28 runs in 13 overs. Paul Stirling hit 41 from 51 balls but there was a morning wicket apiece for Barker, Patel, Rikki Clarke and Boyd Rankin.
----------
LUNCH DAY TWO: MIDDLESEX 82-4*
Warwickshire fought back strongly following Middlesex's brisk start after their LV=County Championship match belatedly got underway at Edgbaston today.
The visitors went into lunch on 82 for four, having charged to 50 without loss in 12 overs before losing four wickets for 28 runs in 13 overs.
After the first day was washed out, Middlesex have no time to lose as they seek to force a victory to retain their vestigial chance of overhauling Yorkshire in the title race.
They raced to 50 but then hit major turbulence. They lost both openers in 20 balls as Sam Robson fell lbw to Rikki Clarke for 14 and Paul Stirling, having hit seven fours in 41 from 51 balls, edged the impressive Keith Barker to Clarke at second slip.
A double bowling change then paid off handsomely for Warwickshire as Boyd Rankin's sixth ball dismissed the in-form Dawid Malan caught-behind for seven and Jeetan Patel's second trapped Nick Compton lbw for 18.
