DAY THREE - CLOSE OF PLAY
WARWICKSHIRE 505 a/o & 24/0
MIDDLESEX 246 a/o & 278 a/o
WARWICKSHIRE WIN BY 10 WICKETS
Resuming on 174/6, Middlesex got off to a disappointing start as Sowter was dismissed by Hannon-Dalby shortly after the restart. The new batsman at the crease, Walallawita, was sent back to the pavilion by the same bowler soon after for just 2 runs. A 65 run ninth wicket partnership between Patel and Perera somewhat stabilised the Middlesex innings, before the former was caught by Singh off the bowling of Leverock for 34. With Perera being dismissed by the next ball, that signalled the end of the Middlesex innings, as the hosts were bowled out for 246.
Middlesex were then forced to follow on at Merchant Taylors' and once again got off to a difficult start as both openers Gubbins and Holden were dismissed with just 28 runs on the scoreboard. With Higgins and Scott the new batsmen at the crease, the pair were able to forge a useful 47 run partnership to help steady the innings for the hosts, before the former was caught by Poysden off the bowling of Hampton. The wicket of Scott fell soon after, with Singh taking his first wicket of the day. An innings high 83 run partnership between White and Andersson strengthened the hosts position in the game and at 178/4 Middlesex looked to continue to build on their innings. However, with Singh in superb form for the visitors, the bowler was able to claim 3 quick wickets to severely dent the Middlesex innings, as the hosts soon found themselves on 194/7. An impressive 8th wicket partnership of 62 between Walallawita and Andersson helped the hosts somewhat boost their total, but once again Singh was there to restrict the hosts, as he dismissed Walallawita and his replacement Patel at the crease shortly after, to claim his sixth wicket of the game. The final wicket of the innings was Barber who came and went for 7 as Middlesex were bowled out for 278, leading the visitors by just 19 runs.
Chasing just 19 runs to win the game, Warwickshire needed only 5 balls to reach their target as the visitors won our final 2nd XI match of the season by 10 wickets.
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DAY TWO - CLOSE OF PLAY
WARWICKSHIRE 505 a/o
MIDDLESEX 174/6
Continuing on 372/4 on Day Two at Merchant Taylors and with Hain and Mellor at the crease, the hosts got off to a poor start as they lost 3 quick wickets with just 24 more runs added to the scoreboard, leaving Warwickshire on 396/7. However, an impressive 8th wicket partnership of 51 runs between Poysden and Mellor helped strengthen the visitors innings, before the former was bowled by Patel for 16. The same bowler was at it again shortly after as he dismissed Leverock for a duck just 2 overs later. Despite this, an impressive 10th wicket partnership of 52 between Mellor and Hannon-Dalby boosted the visitors total, as Warwickshire were eventually bowled out for a hugely impressive 505.
In response, with Gubbins and Holden at the crease, the pair enjoyed a steady start - reaching 15 off the first 2 overs. However, when the former was caught by Mellor off the bowling of Hannon-Dalby, this marked the start of a difficult spell for Middlesex, as the wickets of Holden and Scott followed soon after, to leave the hosts on 19/3 after 3 overs. With Higgins and White at the crease, the pair enjoyed a useful 36 run partnership to add to the scoreboard, before Hannon-Dalby claimed his second wicket of the game, bowling Higgins for 28. Andersson then joined White at the crease and Middlesex's fortunes began to change as the pair enjoyed a brilliant 94 run partnership to help stabilise their innings and reach 149/4. However, a brilliant spell of bowling from Hampton meant the bowler dismissed both batsmen within the space of just 2 overs, as Middlesex ended Day Two on 174/6.
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DAY ONE - CLOSE OF PLAY
WARWICKSHIRE 372/4
Middlesex won the toss and elected to field against Warwickshire at Merchant Taylors in the final 2nd XI game of the season. The hosts named a strong squad, with Gubbins, Holden and Higgins all in the line-up, whilst the visitors also had some notable names in their XI with Umeed and Hose starting the game.
Warwickshire's innings got off to a superb start with Umeed and Pollock enjoying an impressive 118 run partnership, before the latter was caught by White off the bowling of Scott, for 78. With Hammond the new man at the crease, the batsman struggled to hit his stride as he fell for 7 after being bowled by Higgins. The same bowler was at it again shortly after, this time dismissing Hose for a duck, leaving Warwickshire on 171/3. Hain was the next batsman to join Umeed at the crease, and the pair didn't disappoint, enjoying a brilliant 159 run partnership, before the impressive Umeed was caught by Perera off the bowling of Patel for a superb 162. Mellor then joined Hain at the crease and the pair batted out the day, leaving the visitors on 372/4 going into Day Two.
