Luke Fletcher celebrates his 50 with Ben Slater
Photo: Benjy Gilbert

Nottinghamshire 425 and 295-5 dec
Middlesex 195 & 69-3

Middlesex face a long uphill struggle not only to save the game but to avoid their worst ever runs defeat after Nottinghamshire’s declaration late on Day 3.

The East Midlands side built on their first innings lead of 220 before calling a halt to their second innings at 295-5. Needing 516 to win, Middlesex slumped to 0-2 before a dogged 51 by Sam Robson (109 balls) pulled them back to 69-3 at stumps.

Now, the hosts face a long struggle to avoid their record runs defeat which came in 1893 against a touring Australian side with 390 runs the margin. The biggest county hammering was by a margin of 363 runs to Derbyshire in 1996. That record looks to be in danger as Middlesex need 153 to crawl past it. However, the record looks positively less likely to be broken after Robson’s dignified innings following an 0-2 start.

Even if they do surpass 153, it could still be a record home league defeat.

The biggest county thumping at Lords is 301 runs by Leicestershire in 1976.

Oddly enough though, Middlesex went on to be county champions that year. Although their second division status prevents that from happening in 2022, there may be useful lessons to be learned about lifting morale after such a one-sided defeat.

That side had some strong characters, many of whom are still around today, like Mike Brearley, Mike Gatting, Phil Edmonds and Mike Selvey. It is a question we posed to Middlesex Head Coach Richard Johnson.

The opening session belonged to Luke Fletcher as had a few of the first six. Coming in at No 1, he completed his second 50 of the match; having scored his first coming in at No. 11 the day before.

Even more bizarrely, on both occasions he was dismissed the ball after he reached the milestone.

The difference between the two sides is unlikely to be as few as 100 runs, but if it is, Fletcher will have dressing room bragging rights for a while. His batting was only surpassed by Steve Mullaney who fell eight runs short of a century but added a fresh one in the seciond innings and what a ton it was.

Saturday’s innings was a swashbuckling effort. Resuming after lunch, Nottinghamshire put on a batting masterclass. Steven Mullaney had fallen that eight short of a century in the first innings with a very patient responsible innings.

On Saturday, he put Middlesex to the seaxe hitting six 4s and eight 6s in just 58 balls on the way to a thunderous 100. Upon hin reaching that milestone, his skipper declared.

James Pattinson and Stuart Broad looked every inch a first division opening attack as they peppered the Middlesex top order. But it was that man Fletccher,  who provided the torment dismissing both Stoneman and and De Caires for ducks.

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