MIDDLESEX v GLAMORGAN

Teatime Report

Glamorgan resumed on 234-2 after tea with Middlesex opting for the spin combination of Josh de Caires and Leus du Plooy, with the latter being drilled for four through the covers by Northeast and the former being cut for four by Carlson. The first bonus point came at 250 with Northeast square-driving de Caires, before twice cover-driving du Plooy.

Northeast’s appetite for fours continued as he pulled de Caires for four leading to the return of Helm at the Pavilion End. Carlson then reached his fifty by square-cutting the seamer – his 97th ball – before a firm on-drive for four saw Northeast reach his 150 from 195 deliveries and in the process reach a career aggregate of 20,000 runs in first-class, List A and T20 cricket.

Carlson then nurdled Helm for four before flicking him to fine-leg for six. Northeast then brought up the 300 and another batting point by leg-glancing Helm. Later in the over, he on-drove the seamer for his 25th four. The floodlights went on after 80 overs as Middlesex took the new ball with Bamber making the breakthrough as Carlson drove the ball low to extra-cover where du Plooy completed a good low catch.

321-3 saw Colin Ingram become Northeast’s new partner and he began by steering Bamber for four through the vacant third slip position. Northeast then clipped Higgins for four to mid-wicket before Ingram on-drove him for four. The 350 and another point came up as Northeast drove Roland-Jones for a single before Ingram pulled Brookes for four followed by a rasping cover drive for four. Northeast then drove Roland-Jones through the covers for two to reach 186 and the highest-ever score by a Glamorgan batter at Lord`s as Glamorgan ended a wonderful day’s play on 370-3.

Afternoon Report

Glamorgan had reached 118-1 at lunch with Northeast and Root having added 102 runs, and the pair soon picked up where they had left off with Root on-driving Henry Brookes for three before Northeast did the same to Bamber for four before punching him off the back foot to the extra cover ropes. But with the total on 145 Brookes bowled Root as Kiran Carlson made his way to the middle to join Northeast who on-drove Bamber for four.

After some quiet reconnaissance, Carlson cover-drove Roland-Jones for four before pulling him for four. Northeast continued his steady accumulation and threaded another high-class cover drive for three against Roland-Jones before pulling Helm for four. He then reached his hundred – and the 998th in Glamorgan’s history - from 146 balls by drilling his opposite number for another exquisite four through mid-off.

A single from Carlson to mid-off saw Glamorgan the 200-mark in the 53rd over before Josh de Caires returned with his spin at the Nursery End with Ryan Higgins operating again at the Pavilion End, but the Glamorgan captain and vice-captain remained resolute, with Northeast cover-driving and off-driving de Caires for a pair of fours as their side reached tea in a decent position.

Morning update

It’s a new season, with a new captain in red-ball cricket and a new overseas player also making his bow with Sam Northeast leading Glamorgan into the field at Lord’s for their opening first-class match of the summer, with his bowling attack including Mir Hamza as well as on-loan bowler Craig Miles from Warwickshire.

This is the joint earliest starting date of the Championship season with Glamorgan having met Leicestershire at Grace Road on 5 April 2012, with the game having a sensational start as, on a chilly and overcast day when fifteen wickets fell, Huw Waters claimed wickets with the opening two deliveries of the season. Thankfully from a Glamorgan perspective, it was not quite as dramatic this morning at Lord’s where, despite morning rain in St. John’s Wood, play began on time and on a pitch resembling a zebra crossing with alternating dark and light strips of grass.

Ethan Bamber opened the bowling at the Nursery End and being despatched for a pair of threes by Zain ul Hassan and Billy Root. The latter also struck the first boundary of the season as he cover-drove Bamber but, in his fourth over, the bowler found the edge of ul Hassan’s bat with Jack Davies, the great nephew of Haydn Davies (the legendary Glamorgan wicket-keeper) completing the catch. 16-1 saw the arrival of Northeast who punched Bamber through mid-off for four after Root had also straight-driven him for four.

Root also greeted the introduction of Tom Helm into the attack by steering him to the vacant ropes at third before clipping him to the fence at mid-wicket. Northeast then unfurled a sumptuous off-drive against Ryan Higgins before nearly being caught by Max Holden at backward point as he square-drove Tom Helm. He then outside-edged the next ball over the slip cordon before doing the same later in the over, much to the bowler’s disgust as the 50 came up.

Root then drove Helm through backward point before Northeast flicked Toby Roland-Jones to square-leg before off-driving and cover-driving successive balls from Helm to the boards, before a third later in the over. Root then off-drove Henry Brookes’ first ball for four before Northeast steered him through backward point. The Glamorgan captain then off-drove Roland-Jones for four before completing his fifty from 51 balls. Root also reached his half-century, from 63 deliveries, after cover-driving Brookes and square-driving Roland-Jones

Close of Play Report

Middlesex had reached 47-0 at tea, with the floodlights coming on as Mir Hamza returned to the attack at the Pavilion End and James Harris at the Nursery End. Stoneman square-cut the latter for four before clipping him to fine-leg, followed by a cover-drive for four a couple of overs later. Despite a pair of close fielders on the drive on the leg-side, Robson flicked Hamza for four through mid-wicket.

With Middlesex on 79, Craig Miles then returned at the Pavilion End and with his second delivery he are-arranged Robson’s stumps. Max Holden began with a firm on-drive before thick-edging Miles through the gully with Jamie McIlroy returning for a second spell at the Nursery End and twice being flicked to mid-wicket by Stoneman as the Middlesex hundred came up in the 35th over. Stoneman then on-drove McIlroy to complete his fifty from 98 balls.

With the cloud cover building up again the floodlights came back on with Stoneman edging McIlroy for four before Holden cover drove Dan Douthwaite’s opening delivery. Kiran Carlson and James Harris also returned at the Nursery End but the second wicket pair remained resolute.

Afternoon Report

Glamorgan were 507-3 at lunch with Sam Northeast unbeaten on 283 having upped the tempo before lunch as he beat Dick Duckfield’s 280* against Surrey at The Oval in 1936 for the highest first-class score by a Glamorgan batter in London. Tom Helm resumed the bowling with all nine fielders scattered around the boundary’s edge and Colin Ingram continuing to play second fiddle as he worked the ball around for singles to give Northeast the strike as he approached the next milestone of a triple hundred at Lord’s.

The 200 -stand came up as Ingram swept de Caires for four before Northeast, on 291 survived a stumping chance as he advanced down the wicket to the spinner. Ingram then pulled Helm for four before sweeping de Caires for six. Northeast then swept the spinner for four to reach 300 for the second time in his career and to record only the fourth triple hundred in the Club’s history having faced 391 balls.

Ingram then completed his hundred by swatting Helm for six over backward point – his 153rd ball and twelfth boundary – before Northeast reverse-swept de Caires and also lofting him for a pair of straight sixes as he hurried past Steve James 309* and David Lloyd’s 313* and into second place in the batting lists. Ingram then swatted Helm for six to point and through the hands of the fielder as Glamorgan reached 590-3 – the highest-ever total against Middlesex beating the 584-3d at Southgate in 2005.

Ingram celebrated by lofting de Caires for another massive straight six before Northeast slog-swept the spinner for six as the 600 came up in the 137th over. Ingram pulled Brookes for four before a single to square-leg saw Northeast reach 334 to break Graham Gooch’s record for the highest score in first-class cricket at the ground. At the end of the over, Northeast declared, unbeaten on 335 – the highest-ever Championship score in April – with his side on 620-3 which was their eight highest total in first-class cricket.

Mir Hamza and Jamie McIlroy shared the new ball – the first time since September 1978 that a pair of left-arm seamers had taken the new ball for the Welsh county in a Championship match and all after a southpaw opening partnership in Billy Root and Zain ul Hassan. Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson opened the batting for Middlesex with the latter flicking Hamza to fine-leg for four followed by a cover driven four against the Pakistani. He then outside-edged McIlroy for a boundary to third, followed by a clip to the fence at mid-wicket before James Harris and Craig Miles bowled in tandem before tea, with Kiran Carlson’s spin also being employed.

Morning Report

Glamorgan’s supporters had to pinch themselves at the close of play yesterday at Lord’s. Had they seen their side put in to bat, had Sam Northeast ended the day unbeaten on a record 186* and had the team finished on 370-3, despite having only had a handful of outdoor practices because of the wet weather. The answers to all of these questions was an emphatic yes after a wonderful and record-breaking day with the visiting captain making the highest-ever individual score for Glamorgan at Lord’s beating Gilbert Parkhouse’s 182 in 1954.

Northeast duly faced the day’s first ball from Ethan Bamber which he clipped to mid-wicket for one before steering Toby Roland-Jones through backward point for a pair of fours. Colin Ingram also found the ropes as he cover-drove Bamber before Northeast clipped Roland-Jones to mid-wicket for four, followed by a single to cover to reach his double hundred from 279 balls . The Glamorgan captain duly became the fifth batter - after Dan Cherry, Viv Richards, Adrian Dale and Rodney Ontong - to score a double-hundred for Glamorgan against Middlesex, but the first to do so at Lord’s.

Northeast then leg-glanced Roland-Jones for four as Glamorgan reached 400 in the 103rd over and secured another batting point. Rather then take risks and press for a fifth, the fourth wicket pair continued to quietly accumulate as their stand reached the 100-mark with Glamorgan on 424-3 at the end of the 110th over.

On 224* Northeast broke Tony Lewis’ record of 223 against Kent at Gravesend in 1966 for the highest-ever score by a number three batter for the Welsh county. Further records fell as a clip to fine-leg for three by Northeast against Henry Brookes saw him reach 227* and beat Dan Cherry’s 226 at Southgate in 2005 as the highest individual score for Glamorgan against Middlesex. Northeast found the boards again as he firstly pulled Brookes for four before drilling him through mid-wicket and passing Hugh Morris’ score of 233* against Warwickshire at Cardiff in the opening Championship match of the 1997 season.

After eight minutes of seam, Middlesex re-introduced Josh de Caires’ spin at the Nursery End with Ingram flicking him to fine-leg to complete a 95-ball fifty. Ryan Higgins also returned at the Pavilion End and saw Northeast on 239 survive a difficult chance to Noah Cornwall, the substitute fielder at backward point who had been on the field all morning as Sam Robson had suffered a back spasm. Northeast then drilled de Caires to long-off to reach 250 from 344 balls before opening his shoulders to pull Higgins for six before on-driving him for two other maximums.

Evening Report

Middlesex had reached 369-4 at tea with Ryan Higgins and Jack Davies thwarting the visiting attack as they pressed to make further inroads. James Harris and resumed the bowling duties with Davies cover-driving Harris to bring up the century stand before outside-edging McIlroy for another boundary. He then pulled Harris for four en route to a patient 121-ball fifty, followed by a slashed four to the vacant ropes at third against McIlroy.

Higgins then reached his hundred by clipping Miles to the boards at mid-wicket – his 151st delivery – followed by a firm off-drive for four against McIlroy. He then greeted the return of Dan Douthwaite by flat-batting him through cover, with Davies also drilling Miles to the boards at mid-wicket. But this proved to be his final boundary as Kiran Carlson returned at the Nursery End and trapped him l.b.w. for 60.

426-5 saw Josh de Caires make his way to the middle and he began with a square-cut for four against the spinner. Higgins continued his accumulation by flicking Hamza to fine-leg for four before Ingram and Carlson bowled in tandem until the close of play.

Afternoon Update

Middlesex were 252-3 after 82 overs when play resumed after lunch with the new ball being taken as Mir Hamza and James Harris returned to the attack. Ryan Higgins responded by drilling Harris through extra-cover for four but Hamza struck in his third over as, with a full length in-swinging delivery, he trapped du Plooy leg before.

Jack Davies was the new batter as Jamie McIlroy entered the fray at the Nursery End and was square-cut for four by Davies. Craig Miles then replaced Hamza at the Pavilion End with Higgins square-driving McIlroy for four. Kiran Carlson also had a second spell at the Nursery End, with Higgins completing his fifty before Dan Douthwaite returned at the Pavilion End and was swatted through point by the Middlesex all-rounder.

Higgins also swept Carlson for four before Davies lofted him to long-on for four as Middlesex reached 341-4 at the end of 110 overs.

Morning Report

Records tumbled like Autumn leaves yesterday at Lord’s, as Sam Northeast scored a magisterial 335* - the highest individual score for the Welsh county against Middlesex, the second highest innings overall in the Club’s history, and the highest ever in first-class cricket at the historic ground, beating Graham Gooch’s monumental 333 for England against India in 199. By the close, Middlesex were 138-1 still 482 runs in arrears.

On a day when the game’s record-keepers had a heyday, perhaps the most telling statistic, and one about the possible outcome in this match, was that just one wicket fell on the second day of the game, with Craig Miles dismissing Sam Robson. In all, 192 overs have been delivered with just four batters being dismissed and it was Miles who resumed the bowling duties this blustery morning at the Pavilion End with James Harris at the Nursery End.

Mark Stoneman began with a boundary through point before Max Holden flicked Miles to fine-leg. After a flurry of one’s and two’s, Stoneman also clipped Harris for six over square-leg before Mir Hamza and Kiran Carlson returned to the attack. Stoneman clipped Hamza to the ropes at mid-wicket before Holden lofted Carlson to long-on and deep mid-wicket for a pair of assertive boundaries. Stoneman also steered Hamza through backward point for a pair of fours before Holden completed his patient fifty from 115 balls.

But with the total on 199, Carlson removed Stoneman who, on 97, drove uppishly into the covers where Dan Douthwaite completed a good catch diving to his right. Four runs later Douthwaite was in the action again as, in his second over of the morning, he removed Holden for 53 as Colin Ingram completed a good low catch at leg-slip having been moved into the position the previous over.

Leus du Plooy and Ryan Higgins were the next batters, with the former slashing Douthwaite through point for four before the latter cover-drove Carlson. Colin Ingram’s wrist spin was introduced shortly before lunch at the Pavilion End as the opportunity of a new ball also approached

Close of play Report

Middlesex’s innings ended after 211.2 overs – the most since 227.3 by Northamptonshire at Sophia Gardens in 2019 – leaving Glamorgan’s batters with an hour before the umpires could call time. Zain ul Hassan and Billy Root again began the innings but the former edged Ethan Bamber into Jack Davies’ gloves.

Sam Northeast joined Root and flicked Bamber to square-leg for four before Josh de Caires and Leus du Plooy entered the attack as the floodlights came on in the gloomy conditions. Root then edged du Plooy into Higgins’ hands at slip with Kiran Carlson facing the last four balls before the players shook hands at 5pm.

Teatime update

Middlesex resumed after lunch on 546-8 still 74 runs in arrears with Dan Douthwaite and Zain ul Hassan undertaking the bowling duties. Tom Helm pulled Douthwaite for four before straight-driving ul Hassan. Jamie McIlroy and Kiran Carlson then had a spell in tandem as Higgins continued to work the ball around for one’s and two’s whilst Helm again used the long handle to whack Carlson to long-off.

McIlroy bowled to Helm with eight men on the drive as Sam Northeast tried some funky fields in a bid to polish off the Middlesex innings with Helm responding by flat-batting him for four. Ingram also had another spell at the Pavilion End and was biffed for six over mid-wicket by Helm en route to a 100-ball fifty. Higgins then completed his maiden double-century from 350 balls by pulling Ingram for four and wiping off the deficit.

Helm then on-drove Carlson for four before Higgins slog-swept Ingram for six to bring up the century stand for the ninth wicket and to take Middlesex past their previous best total against Glamorgan of 633-7d at Sophia Gardens in 2002. Higgins then reverse-swept Carlson for a pair of fours to beat Justin Langer’s record for the highest individual score for Middlesex against the Welsh county with the Australian having struck 213 at Sophia Gardens in 2000. But on 221 he advanced down the wicket to Carlson and was stumped by Cooke.

Ethan Bamber joined Helm and saw Middlesex to 655 whereupon Helm was caught by Cooke off Ingram in the last over before the interval.

Morning Update

Middlesex had begun the third day 482 runs in arrears, but through the efforts of Mark Stoneman and Ryan Higgins, they had whittled the deficit down to a mere 160 by the close of play, with the benign surface and the Kookaburra ball offering little assistance to the Glamorgan bowlers.

Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson resumed the bowling duties with Josh de Caires reverse-sweeping Carlson for the day’s first boundary before Ryan Higgins clipped Ingram to fine-leg for a single as the follow-on was avoided. Next ball, de Caires tamely chipped a ball back into Ingram’s hands with Toby Roland-Jones striding to the middle with his team on 471-6. Together with Higgins they accumulated in singles until Mir Hamza returned at the Pavilion End for 164th over, with Higgins then lofting Carlson for a six over long-on.

The second new ball was then taken as Jamie McIlroy returned at the Nusery End with Middlesex also reaching the 500-mark shortly before Higgins completed his 150 with an all-run four to the third boundary – his 266th delivery. Roland-Jones square-drove McIlroy for four but in the left-armer’s next over, he drove loosely outside off stump with Chris Cooke completing a regulation catch diving to his right.

518-7 saw Henry Brookes make his way to the middle as Craig Miles also had a trundle at the Pavilion End and was clipped to mid-wicket by the new batter. But he perished in Miles’ next over attempting to repeat the shot as Dan Douthwaite completed the catch with Middlesex on 531-8. Higgins then outside-edged Miles for four before Tom Helm did the same as he bisected the wicket-keeper and first slip.