Middlesex slump to another innings defeat

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Middlesex 167 & 248 lost to Warwickshire 462 by an innings & 47 runs
(Warwickshire 22 pts, Middlesex 2 pts)

Middlesex lost seven wickets after tea to subside to a second innings defeat of the season as their middle order capitulated again.

Chris Rogers (82) and Sam Robson (68) had built a strong platform with a stand of 149, wiping out half of Warwickshire’s first innings lead.

Dawid Malan (pictured) chipped in with 40 but the rest of the recognised batsmen all failed to get into double figures.

Middlesex collapsed from 184-3 at tea to 215-8 and a brief rally from the tail couldn’t prevent Warwickshire winning inside three days.

It is a huge bump down to earth for Rogers’ side after their remarkable seven-wicket win over Yorkshire last week, and comes a month on from their innings defeat to Sussex.

Warwickshire had ended day two 295 runs ahead and quickly removed nightwatchman James Harris in the opening overs.

But Rogers and Robson again demonstrated why they are one of the most successful opening pairs in county cricket with another superb partnership.

They carried their side through to 100-1 at lunch, with Rogers completing his half century just before the interval and Robson making the landmark early in the afternoon.

Both though fell within a couple of overs of each other, Rogers out lbw trying to sweep Jeetan Patel and Robson also trapped in front by Richard Jones.

Malan and Dexter took the score on to 184-3 before rain saw the players go off for an early tea.

At that point, Middlesex were well placed to at least ensure Warwickshire would need to bat again, 111 runs behind with seven wickets in hand.

But then came the obligatory collapse, which began when Dexter edged behind not long after the restart. The under-pressure Joe Denly failed again, making eight, while John Simpson went 10 balls later.

The limpet-like Malan faced 128 deliveries for his 40, but when he and Adam Rossington perished in the same over, Warwickshire could scent victory.

Ollie Rayner and Toby Roland-Jones struck some boundaries in a brief counter-attack but Patel wrapped things up with two wickets in two balls.

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