Bad light halts Rogers as Middlesex take control at Lord’s

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Close, day two: Sussex 283 v Middlesex 229-3

Middlesex 4pts, Sussex 3pts

Middlesex captain Chris Rogers was halted seven runs short of his second century of the season because of bad light early in the evening on day two.

But his unbeaten 93 put his side in an excellent position, just 54 runs short of Sussex’s first innings total, with seven wickets in hand and a solid partnership formed with Eoin Morgan.

Rogers’ excellent stand was built mainly as part of a superb 145-run partnership with Joe Denly, who made 67 after opener Sam Dobson was dismissed in the second over.

And after Denly and Dawid Malan were also dismissed in quick succession, England fringe player Morgan made his half-century before the players were forced off the field at around 5.40pm.

Rogers was in excellent form.

Sussex resumed the second day 242-8 with tail-end batsmen Steve Magoffin and Joe Anyon at the crease and they lasted just 7.3 overs before the final wickets were taken.

Tim Murtagh clattered the furniture behind Anyon for 24 in the 10th over of the day, but England spinner Monty Panesar grabbed a quick 15 before his was the final wicket taken by Gareth Berg.

On an overcast day in some contrast the bright sunshine of day one, Rogers, Denly and Morgan must be highly commended for their work with the bat.

After a troubled start that saw Robson trapped lbw by Magoffin without any runs to his name, Rogers and Denly dug in and grafted out a 50-partnership from less than 20 overs.

Denly had his half-century from just 85 balls, knocking eight excellent shots to the boundary along the way, putting Middlesex at 108-1.

Rogers then added his 50 to the scoreboard in the 30th over, but Denly was abruptly dismissed nine overs later when he was also trapped lbw, this time by Panesar.

And Malan’s clip to Ed Joyce at second slip off Anyon marked another quick wicket just before the tea break, with Middlesex 152-3.

The first batting point was grabbed for Middlesex when Rogers moved to 86 in the 61st over, and Morgan had settled following his skipper’s lead with a quick-fire 31.

Morgan reached 52 from 96 balls in the final over before the umpires brought the players off the field.

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