Robson hits stylish century as Middlesex dominate

A sublime unbeaten 175 from Sam Robson saw Middlesex take control of their opening County Championship match of the season.

Warwickshire, missing the injured Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin, went wicketless in the first session as Robson and Nick Gubbins, who made a stylish 68, punished the many loose balls served up on a sluggish surface.

Robson, who had reached his half-century before lunch, cut and drove beautifully and was particularly severe on anything on his legs, while Gubbins wristily punished Warwickshire in front and behind point.

After lunch, the pitch appeared to quicken and Gubbins was drawn into a wild waft at Chris Wright, the thick edge well taken by Rikki Clarke at second slip.

Nick Compton lasted just one ball, pushing hard off the back foot and being brilliantly taken by Sam Hain, diving to his left at backward point.

By this stage, however, Robson had made his first hundred since May 2015. He reached the milestone in 158 balls, including 16 fours, and his organised defence meant he did not play at anything he did not need to.

By the close, he had 175 fluent, attractive, unbeaten runs. Perhaps, with plenty of spots up for grabs in England’s batting line-up, Robson – who played seven Tests in the summer of 2014 – could yet stake a claim for a recall.

Either side of the new ball, Middlesex lost Dawid Malan, who left a delivery from Keith Barker that took out his off stump, and Adam Voges, who was through his shot too early and played on to the same bowler.

But Robson put on a highly entertaining 54 in 13 overs with John Simpson as the shadows lengthened, the wicket-keeper pulling Chris Wright into the Mound Stand to bring up Middlesex’s third batting point.