| LV= County Championship Division One, Trent Bridge (day one) |
| Middlesex 162-3: Higgins 60*, Simpson 26* |
| Nottinghamshire: But to bat |
| Nottinghamshire 1pt, Middlesex 0pts |
| Match scorecard |
Relegation-threatened Middlesex closed a truncated opening day of their County Championship match towards Nottinghamshire on 162-3 as they started the final spherical of the season with one eye on Kent’s progress towards Lancashire.
Middlesex have to raised Kent’s end result at Canterbury or match it with not less than yet another bonus level than their rivals if they’re to keep away from becoming a member of Northamptonshire in Division Two subsequent season.
Toby Roland-Jones may need taken a number of abruptly together with his determination to bat first, contemplating they’ve received solely two batting bonus factors all season.
Nonetheless, he may argue that his gamers are not less than near the four-an-over run-rate required within the 42 overs potential after rain delayed the beginning at Trent Bridge.
Whether or not they flip that into a considerable hand of factors is one other matter, particularly after Stevie Eskinazi was hit on the top by a ball from Lyndon James on 23 and was not deemed match to proceed.
It seems important that the unbroken partnership between Ryan Higgins (60) and John Simpson (26), price 69, turns into one thing substantial on day two.
The day had begun with Nottinghamshire saying the pending departure of Jake Ball, their 32-year-old former England quick bowler, who has made solely a handful of Championship appearances in latest seasons due to recurrent damage issues.
Fortunately match at the moment, and with Nottinghamshire already assured of remaining in Division One subsequent season, Ball was capable of make his first outing within the red-ball facet since July instead of Asitha Fernando.
He took the brand new ball alongside Brett Hutton, who has been the mainstay of the Nottinghamshire assault this yr with Olly Stone and Luke Fletcher additionally sidelined.
Neither began notably effectively however took wickets in consecutive overs to take away each Middlesex openers with 33 on the board.
Ball drew an edge from Sam Robson for his 204th first-class wicket for the county, earlier than Hutton straightened one to dismiss Mark Stoneman lbw.
Eskinazi was dropped by Joe Clarke at first slip with Ball about to have fun a second wicket, however the introduction of James introduced a divided instantly when the all-rounder’s first supply, angled in to Max Holden, took out the left-hander’s center stump.
Middlesex have been 93-3 when Eskinazi, struck a nasty blow on the facet of the top making an attempt to drag James, needed to depart the sector.
A short stoppage for a bathe at 117-3 was adopted by one other interruption after Steven Mullaney landed closely making a diving cease, the Nottinghamshire skipper changing into the second damage casualty of the day, though he was quickly again on the sector.
It will likely be decided in a single day whether or not Middlesex want a concussion sub for Eskinazi. In his absence, Higgins took on the lead function, reaching his second consecutive half-century and his ninth of the season, from 63 balls with six fours.
Middlesex’s omission of Tim Murtagh – who’s retiring on the finish of the season on the age of 42 – means his look towards Warwickshire final week, during which he took 6-83 within the first innings and eight within the match, was his farewell after 23 years as a participant.
Report provided by ECB Reporters’ Community.