Bowlers on top at Lord’s: Middlesex vs Kent Days 1 & 2 report
A game for the bowlers so far after two days of action at Lord’s. Thus far, both Middlesex and Kent have failed to acquire a single batting bonus point as conditions certainly favoured the seamers.
Ben Compton provided the backbone of Kent’s innings with a cautious 52 before gloving a short ball behind to Middlesex keeper John Simpson.
Grant Stewart was chief support to the Kent opener with a brisk 44 off 50 balls. No other Kent batter was able to heavily contribute to their total as they were eventually bowled out for 186 in their first innings.
Middlesex’s top-order trouble continued against Kent, and have still only acquired one batting point so far this season after being bowled out for 229.
Their innings was stabilized through a strong 75-run partnership between Ryan Higgins and Luke Hollman, which saved the blushes of yet another Middlesex top-order wobble, giving the home side a first-innings lead of 43.
Kent lost a couple of wickets in chase of Middlesex’s first innings lead and closed day two 40-2.
Kent 1st innings
Middlesex won the toss on an overcast morning and put Kent into bat.
After a tidy opening spell from Tom Helm and Tim Murtagh, it was the former Ireland international who picked up the first wicket. England opener Zak Crawley was bowled through the gate for 11.
Middlesex then picked up three wickets in quick succession. Daniel Bell-Drummond, Jack Leaning and Jordan Cox all departed for single figures.
After a steady partnership between Compton and Captain Sam Billings, Kent went into lunch 66-4.
Not long after the lunch break, Billings departed for 14 via LBW off the bowling of wily veteran Murtagh.
After Joe Evison provided a little company for Compton, departing for 16, Stewart and the Kent opener steered the away side to 113-6 before rain called a halt to proceedings on day one.
Day two started with Compton and Stewart building on their partnership from the afternoon previous.
Compton soon passed his 50 off 165 balls with a thick outside edge, which raced through the slip and gully region to the boundary off the bowling of Helm.
Soon after bringing up his 50, Compton departed after attempting to pull a short ball, which instead, brushed his gloves through to Simpson who took a comfortable catch.
This prompted Stewart to go through the gears, hitting a few sixes on his way to scoring 44 off 50 balls. He was the last Kent batsman to be dismissed, eventually departing off the bowling of Higgins, caught on the third-man boundary by Helm.
This gave Kent a below-par total of 186.
Middlesex 1st innings
In reply, Middlesex got off to a usual shaky start. Mark Stoneman departed early, edging a ball off the bowling of Agar, which Crawley parries to Cox who grabbed the ball the second time around.
The afternoon session also didn’t bring much luck for the Middlesex top order. Pieter Malan, Sam Robson and Steven Eskinazi all departed within the first 10 overs after lunch.
Simpson provided brief support for Higgins before departing only for 12, edging through to Billings off the bowling of Michael Hogan, who collected his fourth catch of the innings.
That brought Luke Hollman to the crease, who built a good partnership with Higgins, guiding Middlesex to 122-6 at tea.
After the 50 partnership was brought up by Hollman soon after tea, it was he who was next dismissed. The Middlesex spinner attempted to leave a ball outside off-stump, but in doing so dragged the ball onto his stumps.
Like Stewart in Kent’s innings, this wicket kicked Higgins to increase the rate of scoring. He was supported nicely by Helm who scored a quick 20 off 19 balls before being given out LBW off the bowling of Michael Hogan.
Higgins then finally departed after a very well made 71 off 108 balls. He was caught on the long-on boundary, attempting to hit successive sixes, by Hogan off the bowling of Agar.
Middlesex’s finished with 229 all out after Murtagh was clean bowled off the bowling of Agar, who finished with 4-60.
Kent 2nd innings
Kent’s second innings then got off to a woeful start. Crawley went first ball, edging through to Ezkinazi at 1stslip off the bowling of Murtagh.
He was soon joined in the pavilion by Bell-Drummond. The Kent number three was also dismissed first ball, trapped LBW off Murtagh.
Tim Murtagh takes two wickets with the first two balls of the innings!#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/6IN2Hb7wW8
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 28, 2023
Leaning then joined Compton at the crease who steered Kent through to the close of play with the score 40-2 and trail by 3 runs.
