Harris returns to haunt Middlesex on opening day

James Harris returned back to the home of cricket to haunt his former teammates by bowling Glamorgan back into contention on the opening day of their clash with promotion contenders Middlesex at Lords.

Middlesex were cruising at 90 for 1 in reply to Glamorgan’s 214 all out when Harris produced a blistering spell of bowling of 3 for 0 in 9 balls, reducing the hosts to 92 for 4.

With Nottinghamshire looking almost certainly like Division Two champions, the battle for second placed intensified with both these sides having a chance of grabbing second spot.

Middlesex won a crucial toss and elected to bowl first. Glamorgan were immediately in trouble with two wickets down in the opening two overs.

Eddie Byrom(4) gloved a lifting delivery from Tim Murtagh behind in the first over of the day  before Toby Roland- Jones removed David Lloyd’s off stump to leave Glamorgan 9 for 2.

There was some brief resistance from Shubman Gill and David Lloyd before the twin pace attack of Murtagh and Roland-Jones struck in quick succession with Roland-Jones bowling Gill(22) and Sam Northeast(17) caught behind off Murtagh.

Middlesex had a further reward before lunch when Billy Root(11) was caught behind of Ryan Higgins to leave Glamorgan at Lunch on 108 for 5, with the morning belonging to Middlesex.

The hosts made an early breakthrough shortly after lunch when Kiran Carlson(36) edged Murtagh behind. Higgins bagged the wicket of James Harris(13) with Ethan Bamber ending Chris Cooke’s patient innings of 52.

Despite a counter attacking innings of 36 from Ajaz Patel, which was ended by Higgins, Glamorgan were dismissed for 214 with Higgins on his return back to Middlesex after returning back to the county from Gloucestershire, taking 4 for 59.

Mark Stoneman opened the host’s reply with a flurry of boundaries, but his fellow opener Sam Robson fell early after being taken at third slip for 10.

With the hosts going well enter Harris had Eskinazi(31) caught behind. In his next over he castled Pieter Malan for a duck before having Max Holden caught at slip first ball.

John Simpson survived the hat trick and along with Stoneman steadied the ship before a premature close of play due to bad light.

Middlesex       vs Glamorgan

                                                Glamorgan  214   Middlesex 132 for 4

                            LV= County Championship Division Two  Monday  12^th September 2022

                                    Peter Moore at Lords

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