Dexter defies Somerset on even first day

Middlesex 293-8 v Somerset

Neil Dexter hit an unbeaten 73 as Middlesex recovered from a middle order collapse to leave the opening day at Taunton evenly poised.

Somerset looked on top when the wicket of James Harris left Middlesex floundering on 222-7.

But Dexter shared useful stands with tail-enders Toby Roland-Jones and Tom Smith to give the visitors’ scorecard a healthier look.

Jamie Overton took four wickets for Somerset, accounting for openers Chris Rogers (57) and Sam Robson (42), while Joe Denly hit a brisk 55.

With a definite green tinge to the pitch, Somerset put Middlesex into bat after winning the toss but the openers saw off the new ball with relatively few alarms.

Rogers and Robson once again set a platform, bringing up their fifth 50 partnership of the season in the 17th over.

However, Robson couldn’t reach his own half century as he edged Overton to Marcus Trescothick at slip.

Rogers and Denly made it through to lunch, with Middlesex on 92-1, and both continued to keep the scoreboard moving early in the afternoon session.

Veteran Australian Rogers made it to 50 first, while a dynamic knock from Denly saw him hit his first 40 entirely in boundaries, before he too brought up his half century.

However a clatter of wickets from Somerset’s change bowlers undermined the start Middlesex had made, as they slumped from 158-1 to 162-4.

Rogers was first to go, as he edged behind off Overton, Denly soon followed, castled by Jack Leach, and Dawid Malan was out for just two.

Dexter and John Simpson steadied things until tea and they extended their patient partnership to almost 50 after the interval.

But when Simpson became Leach’s second victim, at 211-5, it was the cue for another mini-collapse.

Gareth Berg fell in unfortunate circumstances, as his sweep shot cannoned back off a close fielder and fell invitingly for Peter Trego to take the catch, while Harris was out for a duck.

Roland-Jones joined Dexter and together they frustrated the Somerset attack.

The tail-ender’s innings of 21 from 34 balls even included one six just after the home side had taken the new ball.

His knock was ended by Overton but Smith and Dexter survived the final overs and will look to put Middlesex in a strong position on Thursday.

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