Warwickshire 126 (Patel 24; Finn 4-53, Murtagh 3-20) & 12-0
Middlesex 161 (Franklin 55, Higgins 38; Sidebottom 4-29)
Skipper James Franklin dug Middlesex out of trouble with a half-century against Warwickshire as 20 wickets fell on an extraordinary first day at Lord’s.
The struggling Bears opted to bat first and were rolled over for just 126, with Steven Finn taking 4-53 – only for Middlesex to plunge to 59-6 in reply.
Franklin led the fightback with a knock of 55, but the home side – who lost Adam Voges to injury in the pre-match warm-up – hold a narrow lead of 23 runs going into day two.
Tim Murtagh (3-20) and Tom Helm (2-42) began the day by maintaining a stranglehold on the Warwickshire innings, with the first 13 overs realising just a single boundary.
None of the batsmen were given time to settle at the crease, with Helm removing Andy Umeed (1) and Jonathan Trott (18) and debutant Dominic Sibley (20) falling to Stevie Eskinazi’s slip catch.
Murtagh’s superb outswinger accounted for former England man Ian Bell (14) and, with Matt Lamb (3) playing on to Higgins (1-4), the Bears had slumped to 64-5 at lunch.
Finn, who generated some bounce from the Pavilion End, came into his own in the afternoon session with three further wickets and, despite
Jeetan Patel’s useful 24, Murtagh wrapped up the innings after 47 overs.
However, Middlesex found batting just as arduous and Chris Woakes was immediately into his stride, having Sam Robson (3) caught at slip and trapping Nick Gubbins (14) leg before.
Eskinazi (7) fell victim to a suicidal run-out, finding himself stranded halfway down the wicket after attempting an optimistic single to mid-off – and Middlesex appeared to be in crisis as John Simpson (2) and Nick Compton (22) departed soon after tea.
Higgins (38) retired hurt after being struck on the head by his first delivery – but returned after the fall of Nathan Sowter and joined forces with Franklin for a partnership of 93 that nudged his side into the black.
Franklin began to play some shots, including a pull for six off Woakes – but he was the last man out, cutting Patel (2-3) to slip, as Middlesex were dismissed for 161.
This post was last modified on 07/08/2017