Middlesex 188
Worcester 100-5

Middlesex won the test and elected to bat.

The home side’s decision to bat first fell flat as Worcestershire enjoyed a marvelous first session. The home side lost their first six wickets for 68, before recovering to lose just one more garnering their next 68.

Robbie White and Sam Robson were both clean bowled without playing an attacking shot. Dillon Pennington had Mark Stoneman and Jack Davies caught although Joe Leach started the rot by clean bowling Robson for 3.

A farcical run-out symbolised the home side’s disarray. Max Holden and Jon Simpson collided and Holden watched in horror as he failed to make his ground, leaving for 12. Roland-Jones was caught at 10 to give Morris his first wicket.

Luke Hollman (interviewed below) was the only man to bring any dignity to the batting and he found a partner in number 9, Tim Helm who batted with incredible responsibility until Hollman was brilliantly bowled by 62 by Josh Baker.

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Murtagh departed for 5 but long enough for Helm to get to 50*, but two short of his career best.

Five bowlers shared the wickets with Joe Leach’s 3-58 the pick of them.

Tim Murtagh scored two quick victims having Pollock caught behind by Simpson and trapping Jake Libby leg before. A tird wicket preceded a very slow scoring session as Worcester crawled from 43-3 after Haynes fell to Helm to 49-5.

Those two quick wickets changed the game back, D’Oliveira and Cornall going cheaply to Roland-Jones and Yadav.

Then it was Worcester’s turn to dig in. Gareth Roderick and Ed Barnard played the softer ball superbly to steer Worcester to 100-5 at the close.

With a gap of 88 and five wickets left, the game is still wide open.

Middlesex Cricket

Annie Chave – Cricket Columnist

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