DAY THREE - CLOSE OF PLAY
MATCH RESULT - MIDDLESEX WIN BY 55 RUNS
Middlesex 169 & 232
Sussex 171 & 175
Middlesex 19 points
Sussex 3 points
Middlesex broke into the race for promotion from the Specsavers County Championship second division with their fourth victory in five matches at Lord’s on Friday.
The fact that the win was achieved against rivals Sussex, who themselves were going for five victories on the spin for the first time since 2006, the year of their second championship success, will have given Dawid Malan’s side even greater satisfaction.
Sussex, set 231 to victory, were optimistic about their chances but a lively bowling display earned Middlesex victory before tea on the third day. Sussex were bowled out for 175 in 44.5 overs.
Middlesex had resumed on 210 for five – 208 ahead - and lost their remaining five wickets for just 22 runs in 10.4 overs and 50 minutes. At that stage all the momentum was with Sussex.
At the start of play Sussex were looking forward to the new ball, which was due five overs into the morning session. But they made a double breakthrough before that.
Malan had added just a single to his overnight 69 when he edged Ollie Robinson, to keeper Ben Brown in the second over. And in the next over James Fuller edged Jofra Archer into the safe hands of Chris Jordan at slip for a duck.
Sussex took the new ball and claimed the remaining three wickets in the space of 12 deliveries. James Harris was lbw to Archer for 26, Ethan Bamber was immediately bowled by Ollie Robinson and Archer wrapped up the innings with this fifth wicket when he had Steven Finn, pulling, caught at short midwicket by Tom Haines.
Sussex suffered an early blow in their chase when Luke Wells lost his off stump to a full length delivery from Bamber for three. But Phil Salt and Haines had put their side in a good position when, just before lunch, Salt was caught behind off a fine delivery from Fuller.
Sussex needed a couple of decent partnerships to get their target under control but their young batting side struggled against a vigorous Middlesex pace attack.
Middlesex appeared to miss an important catch when Harry Finch, on six, was dropped by Ollie Rayner at second slip – something of a collector’s item from one of the safest pairs of hands in county cricket.
Middlesex, however, bounced back to take two wicket in three balls. Fuller had Haines caught in the gully and then Finn pitched one up to bowl Luke Wright for a duck, giving the former Sussex captain a pair in the match.
Finch, unable to make the most of his reprieve, was lbw to Harris for 20. Sussex still had a chance while their captain and most dependable batsman, Ben Brown, was at the wicket. But once he was sixth out, caught behind at 111, it looked all over for them. And it was, despite a stubborn last wicket stand between David Wiese and Danny Briggs.
Chris Jordan fell to a fine catch behind the wicket, Archer was bowled by a wicked delivery from Bamber, Robinson was run out by Malan and finally Briggs was caught behind.
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DAY THREE - LUNCH
Middlesex 232 all out
Sussex 41/2
Sussex, chasing 231 for their fifth championship victory on the spin, were 41 for two at lunch on the third day at Lord’s.
Middlesex had resumed on 210 for five – 208 ahead - and lost their remaining five wickets for the addition of just 22 runs in 10.4 overs and 50 minutes.
At the start of play Sussex were looking forward to the new ball, which was due five overs into the morning session. But they made a double breakthrough before that.
Dawid Malan had added just a single to his overnight 69 when he edged the ninth delivery of the morning, bowled by Ollie Robinson, to keeper Ben Brown. And in the next over James Fuller edged Jofra Archer into the safe hands of Chris Jordan at slip for a duck.
Sussex took the new ball and claimed the remaining three wickets in the space of a dozen deliveries. But Sussex suffered an early setback when they set off on their chase. Luke Wells lost his off stump to a full length delivery from Ethan Bamber for only three and just before lunch Phil Salt was caught behind off a fine delivery from Fuller.
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DAY TWO - CLOSE OF PLAY
Middlesex 210/5
A Stoic unbeaten half-century from Dawid Malan kept alive Middlesex’s hopes of victory over promotion-chasing Sussex on day two at Lord’s.
The Middlesex skipper, recently discarded by England, produced a timely return to form, hitting 69 not out to guide the hosts to 210-5, a lead of 208 in an absorbing three sessions at the Home of Cricket.
His was a study in defiance and concentration, containing just five boundaries, but the runs may yet prove crucial as Middlesex search for a third win in a row to keep their own slim hopes of promotion alive.
This was proper old-fashioned, hard-nosed county cricket, every run earnt and every almost every wicket prized out on a pitch offering encouragement to the bowlers and occasionally keeping low at the Nursery End.
Sussex began on 120-6, 49 runs behind with Ben Brown and Chris Jordan the not out batsmen.
Jordan had been dropped at slip by Sam Robson late on the first evening, but James Harris (4-61) made sure the life given him didn’t prove too costly, bowling the former England all-rounder with a huge in-swinger in the third over of the day.
Harris, the country’s leading wicket taker struck again in his fourth over, pinning the in-form Ben Brown LBW for 24 and with Steven Finn and Ethan Bamber picking up a wicket apiece Sussex were all out for 171 after 77 minutes play – a lead of two.
Nick Gubbins and Robson looked to have negotiated a testing period before lunch only for Jofra Archer to bowl the former for eight with what proved the last ball before lunch.
Resuming just 17 ahead, Middlesex soon lost Robson LBW to Ollie Robinson to one which kept low and were in trouble at 29-2.
His dismissal was the prelude to a riveting afternoon’s cricket. Stevie Eskinazi, who’d come in on a pair and the out of form Malan slowly attempted a rebuild against an exacting visiting seam attack who defended resolutely in the face of the host’s fight-back.
Eskinazi, was scratchy at first until a sumptuous off-drive changed his mood. Eight further boundaries flowed from his bat as he battled to a fourth half-century of the campaign from 93 balls.
At the other end, Malan, while clearly not in touch, doggedly resisted, surviving a huge appeal for caught behind off Jofra Archer, the seamer’s elongated appeal causing a discussion between the umpires at the end of the over.
The pair added 87, but just as they threatened to turn the game Middlesex’s way the excellent Robinson produced a brute of a ball which lifted and took the edge – wicketkeeper Brown did the rest.
Eoin Morgan’s wretched run of low scores continued when Jordan bowled him off the inside edge immediately after tea, leaving Middlesex 125-4.
And, Max Holden, looking surprisingly fretful given his unbeaten half-century in the first innings, gave the visitors another breakthrough when hooking Archer into the hands of Haines at deep square.
Malan though continued to resist, reaching 50 in eight minutes short of three hours and he found an ally in Harris, the pair sharing a half-century stand with power to add in the morning.
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DAY TWO - TEA
Middlesex 125/3
Eskinazi scored a gritty half-century as hosts Middlesex dug in on the second afternoon against Sussex at Lord’s.
Coming in on a pair with the Seaxes 29-2 second time around, just 27 ahead, the South-African-born right-hander battled through to his fourth 50 of the campaign from 93 balls with nine fours.
He reached 60, sharing a third-wicket stand of 87 with skipper Dawid Malan before nicking a lifting ball from Ollie Robinson into the gloves of wicketkeeper Ben Brown.
It was Robinson’s second wicket of the session, he having earlier trapped Sam Robson LBW with one which kept low.
Malan, who survived a huge appeal for caught behind off the bowling of Jofra Archer, remains unbeaten on 31 with Middlesex 125-3.
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DAY TWO - LUNCH
Sussex 171 all out
Middlesex 19/1
Archer struck a vital blow with the last ball before lunch to give promotion chasers Sussex the edge on day two against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Nick Gubbins and Sam Robson looked to have negotiated a testing 35 minutes only for the former to be yorked by Archer, leaving the hosts 19-1 in their second innings.
Earlier, the country’s leading wicket taker James Harris (4-61) added two more to his collection, bowling Chris Jordan with a huge in-swinger before trapping the in-form Ben Brown (24) LBW.
Steven Finn and Ethan Bamber also took a wicket apiece to restrict the visitors to 171 all out, a first innings lead of two.
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DAY ONE - CLOSE OF PLAY
Sussex 120/6
Middlesex fought back after being dismissed for 169 by promotion-chasing Sussex on the first day of their Specsavers County Championship contest at Lord’s.
At stumps Sussex were 120 for 6 in reply and had largely squandered the good work of their bowlers in the opening two sessions.
There was heavy cloud cover for much of the day and the floodlights were on and off. Both attacks exploited the conditions well, although batsmen on both sides were guilty of some loose shots as well.
Only Middlesex’s Max Holden made a half-century, which he reached the ball before Middlesex were bowled out just before tea.
Sussex began their reply positively and openers Luke Wells and Phil Salt had 45 on the board in 7.5 overs. But when Wells (24) drove Ethan Barber uppishly to mid-off it sparked a collapse which saw four wickets fall for 47 runs.
Salt (32) squandered a good start when his airy drive was well caught by Dawid Malan running back from cover. Tom Haines (15) was trapped on the crease and edged to second slip, Harry Finch (17) bowled by one that kept low and Luke Wright leg before to James Harris for a fourth-ball duck.
Chris Jordan and Ben Brown saw out the remainder of the day which ended six overs early because of bad light.
Sussex would be happy with any sort of lead and they will be confident that their bowlers can inflict similar damage in Middlesex’s second innings in a game the hosts really need to win if they are to mount a late promotion charge.
Their four-man seam attack dovetailed effectively and the wickets were shared around but the most impressive bowling came from Jordan, who took 3 for 17 in his second spell after lunch including Eoin Morgan, who was caught at slip after battling for 90 minutes and facing 77 balls for his six runs. At one stage England’s one-day captain went 35 balls without scoring.
Jofra Archer finished with 3 for 34, ending the innings when he uprooted Steve Finn’s leg stump the delivery after Holden reached a battling 104-ball half-century off 155 minutes with five fours. The next highest scorer was 39 extras.
Middlesex never recovered after losing four top-order wickets in the morning session for 30 runs. Ollie Robinson straightened one down the slope to pin Sam Robson (8) and in the next over Steve Eskanzi was beaten for pace by Jofra Archer for a duck.
David Wiese struck with his third ball when Gubbins chased a ball he could have ignored and edged to second slip for 29. The South African then nipped one back off the seam to trap Malan in front for six.
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DAY ONE - TEA
Middlesex 169 all out
Promotion-chasing Sussex bowled out Middlesex for 169 in bowler-friendly conditions on the first day of their Specsavers County Championship match at Lord’s.
Only Max Holden, who reached an unbeaten 50 from the ball before the innings ended, offered much resistance to an excellent Sussex seam attack.
The wickets were shared around but the most impressive spell came from Chris Jordan, who took 3 for 17 in his second spell after lunch including Eoin Morgan, who was caught at slip after battling for 90 minutes and facing 77 balls for his six runs. At one stage Morgan went 35 balls without scoring.
Jofra Archer finished with 3 for 34, ending the innings when he uprooted Steve Finn’s leg stump the delivery after Holden reached a battling 104-ball half-century off 155 minutes with five fours.
Middlesex never recovered after losing four top-order wickets in the morning session for 30 runs, the scalps shared by Ollie Robinson and David Wiese. Nick Gubbins offered some resistance with 29 but extras (39) was second-highest scorer in the innings. The ball swung lavishly all day with the floodlights in regular use.
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DAY ONE - LUNCH
Middlesex 68/4
Sussex’s seam attackers enjoyed a profitable morning at Lord’s, reducing Middlesex to 68/4 on the first day of their crucial Specsavers County Championship match.
The toss was uncontested and Sussex made good use of ideal bowling conditions after morning rain had delayed the start until 11.30am.
Openers Nick Gubbins and Sam Robson did well to negotiate 12 overs unscathed before Middlesex lost four wickets for the addition of 30 runs.
Ollie Robinson made the breakthrough when he trapped Robson (8) in front with a ball which held its line. In the next over Steve Eskanazi was betrayed by a lack of footwork to fall lbw to Jofra Archer for a duck.
Gubbins (29) had played well until he edged David Wiese’s third delivery to Harry Finch at second slip and Wiese struck again in his fifth over from the Nursery End when Dawid Malan was lbw for six to a ball that nipped back.
Amidst much playing and missing, Eoin Morgan and Max Holden (9) took Middlesex to 68 for 4 at lunch, Morgan facing 46 balls for his single run.
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Middlesex
Sussex
