Middlesex crash despite Rayner’s efforts

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Warwickshire 486-6 dec & 111-5 beat Middlesex 309 & 286 by 5 wickets
(Middlesex 4 pts, Warwickshire 22 pts)

Middlesex briefly threatened a remarkable victory at Uxbridge but their efforts proved in vain as the visitors squeezed over the line.

Having set Warwickshire just 110 for the win, Middlesex reduced the 2012 champions to 21-3, with Ollie Rayner taking two wickets in the first four overs.

Gareth Berg spread further panic when he picked up Ateeq Javid to leave the visitors on 54-4, but Tim Ambrose’s measured 47 and two boundaries from Rikki Clarke secured the win.

Earlier, Adam Voges scored a half century and the tail provided useful runs to try and defend as Middlesex were dismissed for 286.

Voges and Toby Roland-Jones started the day positively by knocking off the 30 runs needed to ensure Warwickshire would bat again.

They added a further 10 before Jeetan Patel had Roland-Jones caught for 16.

Voges remained unbowed and reached his half century, adding to the 150 he scored in the first innings.

He and Rayner pushed the lead up to 60 but Voges replicated his dismissal from Wednesday when he was caught and bowled by Chris Woakes.

Rayner hit four fours in a knock of 19 to take Middlesex to 253-9, before a last wicket stand of 33 between Ravi Patel and Corey Collymore set Warwickshire a target of 110.

What seemed like a simple task appeared anything but when Rayner, opening the bowling with Collymore, struck twice in his first two overs.

The spinner had Varun Chopra, who had made 228 in the first innings, out to the 10th ball of the innings and followed it up with the wicket of Laurie Evans in the next over.

When Collymore dismissed Ian Westwood, Warwickshire were reeling on 21-3 but the ship was steadied by Ambrose and Javid.

They had taken the Bears virtually halfway to their target at 54-3 but Berg’s capture of Javid renewed Middlesex’s hopes.

Ambrose and Woakes wrested back the initiative however and although the wicket-keeper couldn’t see the job through, as he was snaffled by Ravi Patel with the score on 98, a couple of fours from Clarke ensured the win.

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