Middlesex 195 & 133/3 v Nottinghamshire 415 & 295/5 dec (County Championship Division Two)

12.05.22-15.05.22

*four day match drawn

An unbeaten hundred from opener Sam Robson and heavy rain in London thwarted Nottinghamshire’s chances of an easy win and the chance to go top of the table.

Starting the final day on a desperate 69 for 3 chasing a mammoth 516 runs to win, Robson and the other not out batsman Max Holden started slowly. Robson, who had just reached his fifty the previous day, hit two fours in succession to reach his century off 177 balls, his second hundred in consecutive matches. However, rain stopped play at 12.30 and with heavy rain during the afternoon the match was eventually abandoned with Middlesex on 133-3.

Robson was unbeaten on 101 with 13 fours and Max Holden remained on 18 off 115 balls, having taken two hours to get to double figures. Luke Fletcher finished with 2-9 in 14 overs. The draw keeps Middlesex at the top of the table.

The previous day, skipper Steven Mullaney had smashed a superb century off only 55 balls as Nottinghamshire declared their second innings on 295-5. Fletcher hit his second fifty of the match, as night-watchman, 51 off 71 balls, and Joe Clarke made 66 not out off 92 balls after his first innings duck. At 157-5, Mullaney came in and soared to 50 off 31 balls before taking just 24 balls more to reach a quick hundred. When the declaration came he was unbeaten on 100 off 58 balls with six fours and eight sixes, and he had put on 138 with Clarke in 17 overs.

Chasing an impossible 516 runs to win, Middlesex got off to a disastrous start, losing two wickets in the first three overs for no runs. Fletcher got both dismissals in the space of 11 balls. Robson reached his fifty just before the close as the home side finished the day on 69-3.

Notts picked up seven points from the game and are now second in the championship table on 88 points, just five points behind the present leaders Middlesex. Day one and two report here.

Middlesex XI: Robson, Stoneman, De Caires, Handscomb (c), Holden, Simpson, Hollman, Andersson, Roland-Jones, Bamber, Murtagh.

Nottinghamshire XI: Slater, Hameed, Duckett, Clarke, James, Mullaney (c), Moores, Patterson-White, Pattinson, Broad, Fletcher.

Venue: Lords, London

*Article provided by Hitesh Darji (Cricket Correspondent).

*Main image @TrentBridge Notts are in control after day two against Middlesex.