MATCH RESULT - SUSSEX WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 50 RUNS
Middlesex 138 all out & 293 all out - 2 points
Sussex 481/9 dec - 24 points
Ollie Robinson returned his best figures of the season as Sussex finally overcame dogged Middlesex resistance on the final day to triumph at Lord’s by an innings and 50 runs.
Robinson finished with 7-98 as the home side eventually succumbed after spirited knocks from James Harris and John Simpson had taken the match into a final hour.
Harris (80 from 211 balls) and Simpson (76 from 154) both registered their highest scores of the season, combining gritty defiance with some classy strokeplay as they put together a partnership of 103 for the sixth wicket.
But Sussex, having failed to complete victories on the final day of their previous two County Championship games, stuck at it and forced the win – although they were forced to call on the services of coach Jason Gillespie as substitute fielder during the closing stages.
With Phil Salt and Laurie Evans both off the field injured, the former Australia international – who retired in 2008 – donned his whites to take up a position inside the boundary rope and witness Sussex’s victory at close hand.
Resuming at 61-4 in the morning, Harris and Nick Gubbins helped to ensure that Middlesex would not be rolled over cheaply for a second time in the match as they compiled a stand of 58.
Gubbins (33) looked strong on the off side, forcing boundaries off Mir Hamza and David Wiese before the latter dismissed him with a questionable lbw decision, the ball appearing to be missing off stump.
Harris and Simpson saw Middlesex through to lunch, but the all-rounder had a fortunate escape in the first over after the interval, fending off a Robinson bouncer that rolled on to the stumps but left the bails in place.
He appeared to be unfazed, however, progressing to his third Championship half-century of the season with a sweet cover drive off Robinson soon after lunch and continuing to find gaps in the field as Middlesex kept the scoreboard moving.
With dark clouds overhead, Sussex finally utilised the spin of Will Beer for the first time in the match and he gave Harris another scare with an lbw shout that was turned down.
The partnership remained intact throughout the afternoon session, realising three figures when Hamza was recalled to take the new ball and saw it immediately dispatched to the boundary by Harris.
But the Pakistan seamer made the breakthrough with his first delivery after tea, finding the outside edge to end Harris’s stay of almost four and a half hours.
Meanwhile, Simpson advanced to 50 before surviving a couple of close calls – an edge that Salt fumbled at second slip and then a leg before appeal by Wiese soon afterwards.
Robinson, having taken the first four wickets of the innings, belatedly completed his five-for by castling Toby Roland-Jones for a breezy 17.
Ollie Rayner (28 no) announced his arrival at the crease with a string of boundaries, but Robinson struck again when he persuaded Simpson to fish outside off stump, with Chris Jordan taking the catch.
Ethan Bamber (4) soon followed and Hamza wrapped up proceedings by having last man Tim Murtagh (1) caught in the slips with 12.4 overs to spare.
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TEA - DAY FOUR
Middlesex 138 all out & 212/5
Sussex 481/9 dec
A stubborn century stand between James Harris and John Simpson kept alive Middlesex’s hopes of salvaging an unlikely draw against Sussex at Lord’s.
The Middlesex pair built an unbroken partnership of 103 to steer their side to 212-5 at tea on the final day and frustrate the visitors’ hopes of forcing a victory that had seemed theirs for the taking.
Harris remained unbeaten on 80, within sight of his maiden first-class century, with Simpson alongside him on 45 not out and 36 overs still scheduled.
Resuming at 61-4 overnight – still 282 runs short of the Sussex total – Middlesex’s prospects of avoiding an innings defeat looked remote.
However, Harris and Nick Gubbins rotated the strike efficiently during the morning as they extended their partnership to 58.
Gubbins was unfortunate to be given out lbw on 33 after opting to leave a ball from David Wiese that moved back, but appeared to be missing off stump.
Harris, who had offered no chances whatsoever, had a fortuitous escape in the first over after lunch when he attempted to fend off a rising delivery from Ollie Robinson and the ball nestled against the stumps but failed to dislodge a bail.
The Middlesex all-rounder took advantage to reach his half-century soon afterwards from 128 balls, driving Robinson for a crisp boundary through the covers.
Although Chris Jordan caused difficulties for the batsmen with a series of short deliveries, the deteriorating light finally prompted Sussex to turn to the spin of Will Beer, who had a strong leg before shout against Harris turned down.
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LUNCH - DAY FOUR
Middlesex 138 all out & 135/5
Sussex 481/9 dec
James Harris batted through the final morning to delay Sussex as they edged towards an innings victory against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Harris, who also top scored with an unbeaten 38 in his side’s modest first innings total of 138, remained at the crease on 40 not out alongside John Simpson (16*) as Middlesex advanced to 135-5 – still 208 adrift of the visitors’ 481-9 declared.
The all-rounder shared a partnership of 58 with Nick Gubbins, whose controversial dismissal was Sussex’s sole success of the morning.
Having made a solid 33 from 94 balls, Gubbins was adjudged lbw after leaving a David Wiese delivery that nipped back but appeared to be missing his off stump.
Middlesex have at least avoided recording their heaviest loss of the post-war era, which continues to stand at defeat by an innings and 232 runs – also against Sussex at Lord’s – 14 years ago.
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STUMPS - DAY THREE
Middlesex 138 all out & 61/4
Sussex 481/9 dec
Sussex paceman Ollie Robinson left Middlesex facing the prospect of their heaviest County Championship defeat of the modern era after a rain-affected third day at Lord’s
The right-arm seamer tore out the heart out of the home side’s top order with figures of 4-23, which included a burst of 3-8 in 14 balls.
When the weather closed in to provide temporary respite for the beleaguered Seaxes they were 61-4 still needing 282 to make Sussex bat again.
Perhaps more pertinently, Stuart Law’s side require a further 51 to better their loss by an innings and 232 runs to Sussex at Lord’s in 2005 – their worst defeat against a county side since before the outbreak of World War II.
Robinson, in his first match since injuring his shoulder against Durham back in April, had taken three wickets on the first day as the Lord’s tenants were hustled out for 138.
And in more seamer friendly conditions he was close to unplayable second time around.
The 25-year-old and his new-ball partner Mir Hamza set Middlesex openers Max Holden and Sam Robson a searching examination in the morning gloom.
Both bowlers beat the bat a number of times and it was no surprise when Holden edged a ball leaving him a touch on the off-stump line to Luke Wells at fourth slip.
Holden will have been left doubly frustrated by the fact just four balls later, rain and bad light intervened for the first time, driving the players off for an early lunch.
The shortened first session meant Robinson had plenty of energy in reserve to take up where he left off upon the resumption and he did so to devastating effect.
Moving the ball both ways off the seam, he castled Robson (23) with one which trapped the former England man on the crease and bowled him through the gate.
Home skipper Dawid Malan was then undone by one which went the other way, feathering the thinnest of edges to Chris Jordan at first slip.
And still worse was to come for Stuart Law’s side when Stevie Eskinazi poked tentatively at another ball on a nagging off-stump line to give Luke Wells his second catch of the day.
Nick Gubbins and James Harris staved off any further disasters before the rain came again to prevent any further play.
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TEA - DAY THREE
Middlesex 138 all out & 61/4
Sussex 481/9 dec
Ollie Robinson continued Sussex’s charge for victory over Middlesex before the weather intervened again on the third afternoon at Lord’s.
The right-am seamer, in his first match since incurring a shoulder injury against Durham back in April, ripped through Middlesex’s top order in two shortened sessions to leave the hosts 60-4, still needing 283 to avoid an innings defeat.
In perfect seaming conditions, Robinson produced a probing morning spell which gained reward when Max Holden edged an off-stump delivery into the hands of Luke Wells at fourth slip.
Rain and bad light intervened for the first time four balls later with the Seaxes 24-1, forcing an early lunch at 12:45pm.
Having had extra time to put his feet up, Robinson was even more ruthless when play resumed, conjuring up a spell of 3-8 in 14 balls.
Sam Robson was bowled through the gate by one which seamed back in, though the former England opener will reflect on a lack of foot movement which contributed to his downfall.
In-form Middlesex skipper Dawid Malan, saviour of his side on other occasions this season, couldn’t repeat the feat, lasting just four balls before edging one which seamed the other way to Chris Jordan at first slip.
And Stevie Eskinazi’s recent batting struggles continued when he too failed to cover away movement and so gave Wells his second catch of the day.
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LUNCH - DAY THREE
Middlesex 138 all out & 24/1
Sussex 481/9 dec
Ollie Robinson edged Sussex closer to victory over hosts Middlesex on a rain-affected third morning of their County Championship Division 2 clash at Lord’s.
In his first game since suffering a side strain against Durham in the second match of the season back in April, Robinson removed Max Holden as the Seaxes limped to 24-1, still needing 319 to make Sussex bat again.
The 25-year-old gained reward for a probing spell in bowler friendly conditions when Holden fenced at a delivery around off-stump and edged to Luke Wells at fourth slip.
To add to Holden’s frustrations, bad light and rain drove the players from the field just four balls later.
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STUMPS - DAY TWO
Middlesex 138 all out & 9/0
Sussex 481/9 dec
Stiaan van Zyl’s marathon hundred set Sussex on course for a maximum-points win over Middlesex on day 2 at Lord’s.
The South African left-hander batted for just over seven and a half hours for his 173 and with wicketkeeper Ben Brown weighing in with 107, Sussex, who bowled out the hosts for 138 on the opening day, piled up 481-9.
Middlesex, for whom James Harris returned figures of 4-98, survived four overs before stumps reaching 9-0, but they face the prospect of having to bat out almost all of the remaining two days to salvage a draw.
Sussex were only 31 ahead at start of play, but van Zyl and Brown showed great application to bat throughout an absorbing morning session against tight bowling from the hosts.
Van Zyl moved to his half-century before surviving a decent LBW shout from Toby Roland-Jones in what was a probing opening spell from the former England seamer.
Brown at this stage was completely becalmed and he got the benefit of the doubt on another LBW appeal when he’d made just 18, Ethan Bamber the unlucky bowler.
Just 83 runs came in that first session, but even so it meant Sussex were already over 100 in front.
The new-ball was available almost immediately on the resumption, but instead of bringing much-needed wickets for the hosts it was the signal for a furious assault from Brown who unfurled a series of glorious shots.
It set up a race between the two batsmen as to who could get to three figures first. In the event van Zyl just prevailed, reaching the landmark from 233 balls with 12 fours.
Not long afterwards it was Brown’s turn, 16 boundaries getting him to the century almost 100 balls quicker than his teammate. His second fifty came up in 41 balls in a passage of play which saw 81 runs in the 55 minutes after lunch.
It was 2:35pm by the time Middlesex got their first success of the day, Brown slogging across a straight one from Roland-Jones and losing his off-bail.
Two more wickets fell before tea, David Weise pulling a short one from James Harris to Roland-Jones in the deep, before Chris Jordan played on to give Bamber his first scalp of the innings.
Van Zyl though remained and any hopes of running through the tail were hindered by staunch support from Will Beer, who ensured maximum batting points were secured before tea.
The pair batted deep into the final session taking the eighth wicket stand to 89 before van Zyl epic vigil ended when he was trapped in front by Harris.
There was still time for Beer to make 50 and so equal his career-best, before Harris struck for a fourth time to scatter Ollie Robinson’s stumps, provoking Jason Gillespie’s men to declare 343 to the good.
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TEA - DAY TWO
Middlesex 138 all out
Sussex 412/7
Centuries for Stiaan van Zyl and Ben Brown saw Sussex continue to dominate hosts Middlesex on day two at Lord’s.
Brown, so often the scourge of Middlesex, hit 107, while van Zyl remained unbeaten on 142 as the men from the south coast piled up 412-7 by tea, so extending their first innings lead to 274.
Both men survived LBW shouts in an attritional morning session, Brown’s against youngster Ethan Bamber when he had made just 18 looking the closer call.
The afternoon was a different story as Brown launched an assault on the second new-ball so savage he almost overhauled Van Zyl in the race to their respective centuries.
In the event, the South African left-hander was first to the milestone from 233 balls with 12 fours.
Brown though was hot on his heels, his ton coming almost 100 balls faster, helped by 16 fours. The wicketkeeper’s second 50 came in just 41 balls.
The pair added a further 81 after lunch in just 55 minutes before their stand of 177 came to an end when Brown slogged across the line to a straight one from Toby Roland-Jones and lost his off-bail.
David Weise made 18 at a run a ball to continue the momentum before holing out at long-leg off James Harris, but Chris Jordan missed out when bowled off the inside edge by Bamber for 1.
Will Beer though provided van Zyl with good support to ensure maximum batting points for the visitors.
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LUNCH - DAY TWO
Middlesex 138 all out
Sussex 252/4
Van Zyl’s stoic half-century saw Sussex stretch their first innings lead over hosts Middlesex on an absorbing second morning at Lord’s.
The South African left-hander notched his 48th first-class 50 from 117 balls as the visitors, who bowled out Middlesex for 138 on the opening day, moved from 169-4 to 252-4 - 114 ahead.
Ben Brown reached his own 50 just before the interval from 96 balls as the pair extended their fourth-wicket stand to 96, though not without the odd alarm.
Both survived big LBW appeals, Van Zyl (81 not out) when on 58 and Brown (51 not out) on 18, Toby Roland-Jones and Ethan Bamber the luckless bowlers.
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STUMPS - DAY ONE
Middlesex 138 all out
Sussex 169/4
David Wiese’s second five-wicket haul of the season gave Sussex the upper hand as they steamrollered Middlesex for 138 on the opening day of their County Championship game at Lord’s.
Wiese finished with figures of 5-26 from 15 overs, ripping through Middlesex’s middle order after the home side had opted to bat first.
The South African all-rounder was backed up by fellow seamers Ollie Robinson and Mir Hamza, who shared the rest of the wickets to skittle Middlesex in just 43.4 overs, with wicketkeeper Ben Brown also claiming five dismissals.
Sussex found batting far easier when they replied, with Phil Salt hitting a half-century and Stiaan Van Zyl undefeated on 46 as they advanced to 169-4, a lead of 31 runs.
Middlesex’s decision to bat looked questionable from the start, with the visitors’ pacemen finding plenty of movement in humid conditions.
Openers Sam Robson (18) and Max Holden (12) both survived edges that fell short of the slips before Robson became the first to depart, nudging an outswinger from Robinson into the keeper’s gloves.
Nick Gubbins (2) soon followed, caught down the leg side off Hamza, before Wiese turned the screw, wrecking Middlesex’s top order with consistent spells either side of the lunch interval.
Holden and John Simpson (4) perished to loose drives outside off stump, while both Dawid Malan (15) and Stevie Eskinazi (6) were caught behind fishing at good-length deliveries.
Toby Roland-Jones (14) lifted the Middlesex total into three figures with a couple of crisp cover drives to the boundary before becoming the fifth victim of the day for both Wiese and Brown.
Robinson (3-50) then got in on the act, reducing the home side to 110-9 with lbw decisions to remove Ollie Rayner (0) and Ethan Bamber (5).
James Harris began to play with some freedom, launching Chris Jordan into the grandstand for six as he shared a last-wicket stand of 28 with Tim Murtagh.
But Hamza (2-35) finished off the innings by claiming the 300th wicket of his first-class career as he bowled Murtagh (10), leaving Harris unbeaten on 38.
Middlesex’s total represented their lowest first-innings score in red-ball cricket since they posted 98 against Worcestershire at the end of the 2015 season.
The visitors quickly set about wiping out the deficit, with Salt going for his shots and utilising the short boundary on the leg side as he raced towards a brisk 50.
Although they lost Luke Wells (7), leg before to Murtagh, Harry Finch helped Salt to reach 78-1 at tea – only 60 short of the modest Middlesex total.
The evergreen Murtagh gave his side fresh hope, pinning Finch (27) lbw in the first over after tea and then clean bowling Salt.
Laurie Evans, lbw to Harris for 31, was the only other wicket to fall before the close – but by then Sussex had already established a lead and they begin the second day as comfortable favourites.
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TEA - DAY ONE
Middlesex 138 all out
Sussex 78/1
Middlesex were rolled over for their lowest first-innings total in red-ball cricket since 2015 after a five-wicket burst from Sussex’s David Wiese.
The South African seamer returned figures of 5-26, with fellow pacemen Ollie Robinson and Mir Hamza sharing the remainder of the wickets at Lord’s to dismiss Middlesex for just 138.
Only James Harris, who struck an unbeaten 38, emerged with much credit as Middlesex – having opted to bat first – lasted only 43.4 overs at the crease.
The opening partnership of 29 between Sam Robson (18) and Max Holden (12) proved to be the best of the Middlesex innings, which crumbled in the face of consistent seam bowling.
Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown recorded five catches, four of them in the morning session as the home side slumped to 63-5.
John Simpson became the sixth departure soon after lunch, driving a wide ball from Wiese to second slip before Toby Roland-Jones (14) hit two boundaries to lift the total beyond 100.
But Wiese removed Roland-Jones to complete his five-for and Robinson (3-50) accounted for Ollie Rayner (0) and Ethan Bamber (5), both leg before.
Harris began to open up, flicking Chris Jordan into the grandstand for six and adding 28 for the last wicket with Tim Murtagh (10) before the latter was bowled by Hamza.
Sussex wiped out more than half the deficit by tea, reaching 78 for the loss of Luke Wells (7), lbw to Murtagh.
But Phil Salt (44no) went for his shots, finding the short boundary with regularity as he shared an unbroken stand of 55 with Harry Finch (27*).
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LUNCH - DAY ONE
Middlesex 77/5
David Wiese’s three wickets put Sussex in command as they reduced Middlesex to 77-5 at lunch on the opening day of their County Championship clash at Lord’s.
Having lost the toss, the visitors rotated Wiese and fellow pacemen Mir Hamza and Ollie Robinson throughout almost the entire morning session, with all three swinging the ball to good effect as they tore Middlesex’s top order apart.
Openers Sam Robson (18) and Max Holden (12) reached 29 before the former prodded at a Robinson outswinger to give Ben Brown the first of four catches.
Nick Gubbins (2) soon followed, caught down the leg side off an innocuous Hamza delivery before Wiese’s steady spell from the Nursery End earned him a trio of wickets.
Holden’s drive flew into the hands of Laurie Evans at third slip before Dawid Malan (15) and Stevie Eskinazi (6) both nibbled outside off stump to leave Middlesex deep in trouble.
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Middlesex
Sussex
