Robbo doubles up while Warwickshire needs the Trotts

Darren Gosling gives us the low down on a solid day for Middlesex, when the batting does well and the bowlers do well. Keep it going guys.

Following making hay in the sun yesterday, Middlesex resumed on 317-4 at a rather gloomy and overcast Lords on Monday morning. Warwickshire opened with their best two bowler on day one Barker and Wright. The first real point of note was Simpson’s pull shot to the boundary off Wright to bring up the Middlesex 350 to secure a fourth batting point. Just a few overs later Robson brought up his double-hundred, the third of his career and second against Warwickshire.

As the light improved (no sign of sunshine yet though) Simpson and Robson remained in control and the next over another Simpson boundary off Hannon-Dalby brought up his 50 and the 100 partnership. Ricky Clarke was then introduced to the attack and removed Simpson with just his third ball ct Ambose for 52, leaving Middlesex on 370-5. Franklin came and went for 3 caught at second slip by Clarke off Hannon-Dalby (377-6).

New highest individual score against Warwickshire and Robbo personal best

Robson then took a boundary off Hannon-Dalby despite Clarke’s despairing dive to pass his previous highest first class score of 215*. Jeetan Patel then came on from the nursery end and as he did yesterday Robson attacked him straight away dispatching Patel over long off for 6 (his first of his innings). Unfortunately Robson tried the same again and didn’t quite get enough on it with Bell pouching catch running in from the boundary. Robson’s marathon innings lasted 8 hours and 7 mins, took 345 balls and he hit 30 x 4 and 1 x 6. His eventual score of 231 becoming his highest first class score to date and took Middlesex to 405-7.

The spinner Patel then proceeded to mop up the Middlesex tail first trapping Harris (who missed an attempted sweep) lbw for 12, and then Murtagh clean bowled for 1.  With Middlesex 9 down at 1pm the extra overs/half hour was enforced which led to Roland-Jones and Finn enjoying themselves at Warwickshire’s expense. Both played some decent cricket shots, Finn (22 n.o.) even hit Patel for a 6 before Roland-Jones befell the same fate as Robson ct Bell b Patel for 18.The last wicket partnership of 37 taking Middlesex to 452 all out and lunch was taken. During lunch the weather began to improve quite significantly and by the time Chopra and Westwood opened the innings small chunks of blue sky could even be seen!

Following an opening maiden over from Murtagh, Finn removed Westwood with his first Championship delivery of the season (ct at slip by Compton 0). Warwickshire 0-1, the perfect start. Ian Bell joined Chopra at the crease as they both began to build the Warwickshire innings. In the 8th over Murtagh put a stop to the partnership by flattening Bell’s off stump (for 14) leaving Warwickshire 31-2. Trott came to the crease and almost feathered a chance to Simpson off Murtagh in the same over. Roland-Jones and Harris replaced Murtagh and Finn as Middlesex sought to make further inroads.

One bad over apart (the first from TRJ) both gave little away and the run rate began to slow down. Trott and Chopra though batted watchfully to steady the ship, Chopra was the more attacking and soon brought up his 50. Soon after Voges dropped Chopra off TRJ in the slips but the mistake did not prove too costly as Chopra only added another 7 runs before departing with the score on 89-3 having been clean bowled by Murtagh. Sam Hain joined Trott at the wicket but Warwickshire batted through to tea on 108-3.

Ball 3 of the third session saw Finn strike again bowling Hain for 2, leaving Warwickshire 117-4. Trott was looking in immovable form reaching his 50 in the process. Ambrose and Trott took Warwickshire through to a premature close on 146-4, with 17 overs being lost due to bad light. Middlesex will be much the happier of the two teams, though their chances of a first victory over Warwickshire since 1983 could depend on how quickly on day 3 they can remove Trott.