DAY TWO - CLOSE OF PLAY
Middlesex 249-5
Surrey 415 all out
Despite an eye-catching 82 from Nick Gubbins and a watchful half-century by John Simpson, Middlesex were made to work hard with the bat on day two of the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash at Lord’s, which ended with the hosts on 249 for five in reply to Surrey’s first innings 415. Gubbins, the 22-year-old left-hander, has now scored 849 championship runs at average of 65.30 this season and was close to completing a third hundred in as many first-class innings at Lord’s.
Earlier in the day, Surrey converted their overnight 384 for eight into maximum batting points, though not before Gareth Batty had been dropped on 13 when a miscued pull off Toby Roland-Jones just evaded John Simpson’s full-length dive. Roland-Jones eventually snared the Surrey skipper leg before for 23, while James Harris added a third wicket to his tally when Stuart Meaker played across the line and was also lbw, leaving Ben Foakes undefeated on 63.
In reply, Middlesex suffered the early blow of losing Stevie Eskinazi for eight, lbw to Tom Curran, and Nick Compton for 11. Compton was undone by an inswinging ball from Meaker, which flattened his off stump off an inside edge.
The left-handed pair of Gubbins and Dawid Malan then added 80 for the third wicket, and Gubbins, who reeled off a number of sumptuous cover drives and latched on to anything on his legs, moved to a 100-ball half-century that included nine fours. He also drove Zafar Ansari to the extra cover rope before lifting the 24-year-old slow left-armer’s next delivery over long on for six.
Ansari, however, soon struck twice in the space of 12 deliveries, having Malan caught at short leg by Dominic Sibley for 31 and bowling Gubbins, who was sweeping, around his legs. George Bailey, who was dropped at short leg off Batty, on 2, and Simpson then put on 70 in 19 overs, and shortly after tea Bailey cut and then pulled Meaker to the boundary before cutting the 27-year-old fast bowler for another four. But six overs later, the Tasmanian was lbw for 37, shaping to sweep Batty. Simpson, who launched Ansari straight down the ground for six shortly before the close, hit a valuable 52 not out - his half-century coming off 128 balls – and joined James Franklin (16 not out) in an unbroken sixth wicket stand that was not only worth 45 but also kept Middlesex in a hard-fought contest.
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DAY TWO - TEA
Middlesex 156-4
Surrey 415 all out
Despite an eye-catching 82 from Nick Gubbins, Middlesex were 156 for 4 at tea and on the back foot in reply to Surrey’s 415 on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash at Lord’s. Four overs after losing Dawid Malan, caught at short leg for 31, Surrey left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari struck again when Gubbins, sweeping, was bowled around his legs within sight of what would have been a third hundred in as many championship innings at Lord’s for the 22-year-old.
Had George Bailey not been dropped at short leg off Gareth Batty, on 2, the hosts would be in even more bother after Middlesex had suffered the early blow of losing Stevie Eskinazi for eight, lbw to Tom Curran, and Nick Compton for 11 who was undone by an inswinging ball from Stuart Meaker which flattened his off stump.
Left-hander Gubbins, who reeled off a number of sumptuous cover drives and latched on to anything on his legs, moved to a 100-ball half-century that included nine fours. He also drove Ansari to the extra cover ropes before lifting the 24-year-old slow left-armer’s next delivery over long on for six.
Earlier in the day, Surrey crept cautiously towards the 400-mark, taking 37 balls to convert their 384 for eight overnight into maximum batting points, though not before Batty had been dropped on 13 when a miscued pull off Toby Roland-Jones just evaded John Simpson’s full-length dive. Roland-Jones eventually snared the Surrey skipper leg before for 23, while James Harris added a third wicket to his tally when Meaker played across the line and was also lbw.
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DAY TWO - LUNCH
Middlesex 22-1
Surrey 415 all out
Ben Foakes finished with an unbeaten 63 as Surrey posted a first innings 415 against Middlesex on day two of the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash at Lord’s, where, at lunch, the hosts were 22-1 in reply.
Surrey crept cautiously towards the 400-mark, taking 37 balls to convert their 384 for eight overnight into maximum batting points, though not before Gareth Batty had been dropped on 13 when a miscued pull off Toby Roland-Jones just evaded John Simpson’s full-length dive.
Roland-Jones eventually snared the Surrey skipper leg before for 23, and James Harris added a third wicket to his tally when Stuart Meaker played across the line and was also lbw.
Middlesex suffered an early blow when Stevie Eskinazi departed lbw to Tom Curran. But Nick Gubbins, who announced himself with a delightful flick to long leg for four off Sam Curran, and Nick Compton saw the hosts through to lunch with no further setbacks.
