STUMPS DAY THREE: MIDDLESEX 207; WARWICKSHIRE 224-8*
Tim Ambrose displayed his ability to dig deep when his team needs it most as he steered Warwickshire out of trouble on the third day of their LV=County Championship tussle with Middlesex at Edgbaston.
Warwickshire were in deep trouble at 86 for six on a wearing pitch in reply to the visitors' 207 but closed a bad light-truncated third day on 224 for eight with Ambrose unbeaten on 84 (139 balls, 13 fours).
Many of the former England wicketkeeper's best innings for his county have been played at a time of jeopardy for his team and again his application, with resolute support from Keith Barker and Chris Wright, steered Warwickshire into calmer waters.
Ambrose added 87 in 27 overs with Barker (30, 84 balls) and an unbroken 50 in 17 with Wright before bad light lopped off the last 21 overs.
The first-day washout, allied to further weather interruptions on days two and three, has probably cost this match too much time to produce a decisive result, but the pitch is turning so Warwickshire will look to Jeetan Patel to cause problems on the final day.
For Middlesex there was deep frustration after they let slip a position of strength. After Warwickshire resumed on the third morning on 21 for one, they lost five wickets for 64 runs in the first 25 overs.
Off-spinner Ollie Rayner's third ball of the day dismissed William Porterfield, caught behind, before the seamers struck a string of blow.
Toby Roland-Jones deserved more than the lone wicket of Jonathan Trott, who departed for an unconvincing ten, before Tim Murtagh took three wickets in 16 balls without conceding a run.
Varun Chopra resisted hard for 44 (95 balls) then was superbly caught by Sam Robson off the full face of the bat at gully. Sam Hain (21) and Rikki Clarke (0) edged outswingers into the slips. That was 86 for six but Ambrose and Barker knuckled down.
The latter rarely looked comfortable, especially against Rayner, but survived for 95 minutes before falling following a nifty bowling change by Middlesex skipper James Franklin. He threw the ball to second spinner Paul Stirling who struck with his 11th ball when Barker miscued a reverse-sweep to slip.
Patel soon edged Murtagh into the cordon but Wright settled in alongside Ambrose who passed 50 for the third time in the championship this season. On both previous occasions he went on to 100 and if he does so again here Warwickshire will have a useful lead.
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TEA DAY THREE: MIDDLESEX 207; WARWICKSHIRE 153-6*
Tim Ambrose led Warwickshire's defiance as they fought hard against Middlesex on the third afternoon of a fascinating LV=County Championship tussle at Edgbaston.
In reply to the visitors' 207 all out, the Bears dipped to 86 for six this morning but then Ambrose and Keith Barker advanced the total to 153 for six before bad light forced an early tea.
Ambrose, blending watchful defence with severe punishment of anything short, went into tea unbeaten on 44 (71 balls, nine fours) while Barker was on 19 having stuck it our despite some uncertain moments against the spin of Ollie Rayner.
Warwickshire needed the rescue work from their seventh-wicket pair after Middlesex dominated the morning's play.
After resuming on 21 for one, the home side lost five wickets in the session, one each to Rayner and Toby Roland-Jones before Tim Murtagh took three in 16 balls without conceding a run. Only Varun Chopra (44, 95 balls) resisted long.
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LUNCH DAY THREE: MIDDLESEX 207; WARWICKSHIRE 106-6*
Middlesex took a firm grip of their LV=County Championship match against Warwickshire on the third day at Edgbaston, reducing the home aside to 106 for six at lunch.
Warwickshire resumed this morning on 21 for one, in reply to the visitors' 207, and lost wickets steadily against the seamers.
On a used pitch, spin was expected to be the most potent weapon but after Ollie Rayner dismissed William Porterfield, caught behind, with his third ball of the day, the quicker bowlers did the damage.
Toby Roland-Jones induced a nick from Jonathan Trott, who departed for an unconvincing ten, then Tim Murtagh struck three times in 14 balls. Varun Chopra (44 from 95 balls) was superbly caught by Sam Robson at gully before Sam Hain (21) and Rikki Clarke (0) edged into the slips.
With assistance from the pitch for the bowlers, the match may well yield a decisive result despite the loss of the entire first day to rain.
