MATCH DRAWN: MIDDLESEX 452 & 304-6D; WARWICKSHIRE 468
Sam Robson added 106 to his first innings 231 as Warwickshire’s bowlers continued to suffer at Lord’s and the recent England Test opener broke a number of long-standing Middlesex records.
The last day of the Specsavers County Championship Division One match drifted predictably to a high-scoring draw, with Middlesex reaching 304 for 6 in their second innings, but it was still a memorable one for Robson, who played seven Tests in 2014 before being discarded by the England selectors.
Resuming on 35, in Middlesex’s overnight 76 for two, the 26-year-old right hander made it to 84 by lunch and, at the start of the afternoon session, scored the five more he required to go past the previous record for the number of first-class runs made in a match at Lord’s by a Middlesex batsman, the 319 set in 1893 by Andrew Stoddart.
Then, by completing his hundred, Robson equalled the match aggregate record by a Middlesex batsman in any first-class game, which was the 331 not out scored by Jack Robertson against Worcestershire at New Road in 1949.
When he was eventually stumped advancing to Jeetan Patel’s off spin, Robson had pushed his county’s new record match aggregate mark up to 337 runs. He also became the first Middlesex batsman to score a double-hundred and a hundred in the same first-class match.
Robson added 71 for the third wicket with Nick Compton, who was lbw to Rikki Clarke for 44 in the morning session, and then 105 for the fourth wicket with Adam Voges, who went on to make 92 and take advantage of some gentle late afternoon batting practice against Warwickshire’s occasional and non-bowlers.
Voges, however, fell to the penultimate ball of the match, skying Tim Ambrose to deep mid wicket. It was Ambrose’s maiden first-class wicket and Voges was trying to reach a hundred before stumps were drawn. Every Warwickshire player, including wicketkeeper Ambrose, had a bowl, with Ian Bell giving himself seven perfectly respectable overs of medium pace.
John Simpson fell for 13 at 222, when he was lbw to Patel propping forward, but James Franklin finished on 30 not out and stayed with Voges while another 82 were added for the sixth wicket.
Both teams, regarded as potential champions, will be happy enough with the draw points. Middlesex, who made 452 in their first innings, take 12 points overall and Warwickshire, who replied with 468, take 11 points.
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Tea Day 4 at Lord's: Middlesex 452 & 252-5; Warwickshire 468
Sam Robson added 106 to his first innings 231 as Warwickshire’s bowlers continued to suffer at Lord’s and the former England Test opener broke a number of long-standing Middlesex records.
The last day of the Specsavers County Championship Division One match was drifting towards a high-scoring draw, with Middlesex reaching 252 for 5 in their second innings by tea, but it was still a memorable one for Robson.
Resuming on 35, in Middlesex’s overnight 76 for two, the 26-year-old right hander made it to 84 by lunch and, early in the afternoon session, scored the five more runs he required to go past the previous record for the number of first-class runs made in a match at Lord’s by a Middlesex batsman, the 319 set in 1893 by Andrew Stoddart.
Then, by completing his hundred, Robson equalled the match aggregate record by a Middlesex batsman in any first-class game, which was 331. When he was eventually stumped advancing to Jeetan Patel’s off spin, Robson had pushed his county’s new record match aggregate mark up to 337 runs.
Robson added 71 for the third wicket with Nick Compton, who was lbw to Rikki Clarke for 44 in the morning session, and then 105 for the fourth wicket with Adam Voges who, at tea, had moved on to 58 not out. John Simpson fell for 13 at 222, when he was lbw to Patel propping forward, but James Franklin remained unbeaten on 16.
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Lunch Day 4 at Lord's: Middlesex 452 and 165-3; Warwickshire 468
Sam Robson added an unbeaten 84 to his first innings 231 as Middlesex looked to build a last day lead against Warwickshire at a sunny but chilly Lord’s. Robson was just five runs away from equalling the previous record aggregate by a Middlesex player in a first-class match - the 319 runs scored by Andrew Stoddart in 1893.
Middlesex were 165 for three by lunch on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship Division One match, a lead of 149 after resuming 60 runs ahead on 76 for two, with Adam Voges joining Robson in a fourth wicket stand so far worth 74 following the departure of Nick Compton for 44.
Compton added just ten to his overnight 34 before missing a near-yorker from Rikki Clarke and being adjudged lbw in the ninth over of the morning. He and Robson had put on 71 for the third wicket, rallying Middlesex from 20 for two. But the bat continues to dominate the ball, on a placid pitch.
Voges was on 22 not out at the interval and, with just two sessions of the match remaining, a high-scoring draw looked inevitable. Middlesex totalled 452 in their first innings, with Warwickshire replying with 468.
