DAY ONE
Middlesex took eight wickets on the opening day of the two-day pre-season match against Surrey at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Ethan Bamber (3/45) took three wickets and Nathan Sowter took two (2/53) as Surrey ended the day on 303/10 at stumps in Northwood.
Blake Cullen and Max Holden took one wicket each – with the former removing England international Sam Curran in the 15th over of the day, uprooting his off-stump in the process.
Surrey were 43/4 at one stage as the Middlesex quicks bowled with accuracy and applied pressure under glorious blue skies, however a 122-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Ryan Patel and Cameron Steel provided frustration before Patel was trapped in front by Sowter for a well-made 85.
Jordan Clark (10) also fell before tea as the visitors reached 192/7 at the break.
Shortly after the tea interval, the new ball was taken – Jamie Overton retired out on 52 and Conor McKerr retired out on 18, before Rory Burns was out for the second time in the day having been bowled by Bamber.
Jamie Smith and Will Jacks managed to negate the remaining deliveries before bad light brought the day’s proceedings to a premature end.
Day two of the match will begin at 11am tomorrow, with spectators welcome – although there will be limited facilities, with parking available on Long Lane, adjacent to the ground.
For those who can’t make it to Merchant Taylors’ School, an enhanced live stream will be available via the match centre on the Club’s website.
DAY TWO
A half-century from Mark Stoneman was the highlight for Middlesex on the second day of the two-day friendly against Surrey at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Stoneman scored 81 off 131 balls in an innings that included 12 boundaries – before retiring out. Sam Robson retired at the same time when he was on 44.
On a typical overcast pre-season day, the pair negated any movement successfully and reached 89/0 at lunch.
The pair continued after the interval and Stoneman brought up the half-century with the first ball of the afternoon session.
Jack Davies contributed with a well-made 39 before falling LBW to the spin of Cameron Steel. Robbie White chipped in with 31 before falling in the same fashion.
Joe Cracknell also showed glimpses of what is to come in 2022 by scoring 43 before the captains shook hands as Middlesex ended a positive day of cricket on 286/6.
Middlesex are next in action on Thursday when they welcome Essex to Old Merchant Taylors’ Cricket Club for a three-day friendly. Spectators are welcome to attend, however, please note that facilities will be limited – parking is available on Long Lane, adjacent to the Merchant Taylors’ School pitch.
For those who can’t make it to Old Merchant Taylors’ Cricket Club, a live stream will be available from a static analyst camera.
Middlesex
Surrey
