Middlesex frustrated by Warwickshire rearguard

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Middlesex’s hopes of completing a County Championship double over Warwickshire may depend on favourable weather after the visitors fought back on day two at Lord’s.

Half-centuries from Matt Lamb, Jonathan Trott and Chris Woakes propelled Warwickshire into a lead of 258 despite a four-wicket haul for Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins.

But, with adverse weather forecast in London for the next two days, the two sides may yet have to settle for a share of the spoils.

Resuming their second innings on 12-0 overnight, Warwickshire soon lost Dominic Sibley (17), who edged Tim Murtagh behind, but Andy Umeed (30) and Trott (54) settled into a groove, putting on 73 for the second wicket.

However, Higgins bowled the home side back into the game just before lunch, clipping Umeed’s off stump and then dismissing Trott and his former England colleague Ian Bell (0) in the space of three deliveries.

Murtagh returned from the Nursery End in the afternoon and removed Tim Ambrose (16) with his second ball to reduce Warwickshire to an unsteady 139-5.

But Lamb – who had stood his ground when Steven Finn appealed for a catch behind early in his innings – was well set by that stage and Woakes kept him company with a string of fours.

The England all-rounder outscored Lamb, reaching his half-century from 77 balls shortly after tea as the duo extended their team’s advantage beyond 200.

Higgins eventually broke their century stand as Murtagh dived forward at mid-on to remove Woakes (53), while Lamb, having made his best first-class score of 71, perished to an edge off Helm.

Murtagh immediately cleaned up Jeetan Patel for a duck, but Keith Barker’s unbeaten 30 frustrated Middlesex further before bad light ended play with the visitors on 293-8.