Fuller fires Middlesex to emphatic victory

James Fuller ended with five wickets in his first Championship game for Middlesex as they wrapped up an emphatic victory on the final day at Merchant Taylor’s School in Northwood.

Only inclement weather on Tuesday had held the hosts up but by mid-afternoon on Wednesday they took the last of the six wickets they needed to secure the win, which followed six consecutive draws.

Toby Roland-Jones started things when Hampshire debutant Joe Weatherley prodded half-forward and saw his off-bail removed.

Jimmy Adams led the visitors’ resistance, scoring a stoic 78, having been dropped 30 runs earlier.

He shared 53 with Adam Wheater, who looked in decent touch, but the pair fell in consecutive overs.

Adams was trapped in front by James Franklin and Wheater was caught behind with leaden feet off the pacy Fuller, before a sharp shower brought about an early lunch at 12.45pm.

Tino Best capped a miserable match – during which he was warned for bowling a beamer – by falling for a pair fourth ball after the interval, leaving Mason Crane (21) to join Ryan McLaren (33 not out) for the last rites of Hampshire’s resistance.

They left Middlesex’s bulging cordon – at times eight strong – frustrated for a while before Crane (21) slapped to point to become Fuller’s fifth victim.

McLaren’s lusty hitting took Hampshire past 200 but Ollie Rayner had James Tomlinson caught at slip to complete the maximum-points win.