Roland-Jones keeps Northants in check

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Close, day one: Northants 251-8 v Middlesex

Toby Roland-Jones took 5-45 as Middlesex gained the upper hand late on the first day at Northampton.

The home side scored slowly throughout but had reached tea at 183-3, with opener Stephen Peters making 67.

However, Roland-Jones and Ravi Patel both grabbed a couple of wickets to reduce Northamptonshire to 207-7.

A stand of 42 for the eighth wicket frustrated the Middlesex bowlers but Roland-Jones removed Andrew Hall just before stumps to leave Middlesex on top.

Newly-promoted Northamptonshire, yet to win on their return to Division One this season, made a solid start and reached 87-1, after Roland-Jones had bowled James Middlebrook for 20.

Peters put on 75 with David Sales (43) but both picked out fielders when they looked on course for a big score.

The patient Matt Spriegel scored 19 off 64 deliveries and helped Northants build a platform going into the final session.

But he fell in the second over after tea, with Patel picking up a wicket on his first Championship appearance of the season.

Roland-Jones then removed Rob Newton in the next over and later accounted for Ben Duckett to leave the hosts floundering on 189-6.

When Patel had David Murphy snaffled at short leg by Sam Robson, Middlesex would have had visions of batting by the end of the day.

But they were held up by Hall and Ian Butler’s partnership, which ended when Roland-Jones trapped the South African lbw two overs from the end.

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