Evening update

There were 41 overs remaining when Middlesex began their innings after tea with Mark Stoneman flicking Michael Hogan to square-leg for four before cover-driving James Harris for a second boundary. He added a third by pulling Hogan followed by a fourth next over as he slapped Harris through backward point, plus a fifth in the seamer’s next over as he pulled his former county colleague to the ropes at mid-wicket.

Sam Robson then struck Hogan through the covers for four, with his scoring sequence having been 1-2-3-4, but any thoughts of a five to complete the sequence swiftly evaporated as later in the over he edged Hogan to third slip where Gill dived forward to complete the catch with Middlesex on 36-1. Stevie Eskinazi then survived a loud appeal for caught behind before flicking Hogan to the ropes at fine-leg.

With the floodlights having come on, Eskinazi also sweetly cover-drove Harris for four before flicking him to long-leg. He then drilled van der Gugten through the covers for four before Stoneman greeted the introduction of Patel’s spin by also cover-driving him. Eskinazi repeated the stroke in the Kiwi’s next over but Harris then found the edge of his bat with Cooke completing a good catch diving in front of the slips.

90-2 then became 92-4 as firstly Harris bowled Pieter Malan as he inside-edged a ball onto his stumps before Max Holden snicked the delivery to Northeast at second slip. Next over Stoneman completed his fifty from 78 balls before clipping Harris for six just out of the reach of the fielder at square-leg. Hogan then returned for a second salvo at the Nursery End and was both on-driven and off-driven for a pair of fours by John Simpson whilst van der Gugten also had a further spell at the Pavilion End until the light deteriorated after 36.2 overs

Afternoon Report

Glamorgan were 108-5 when play resumed after lunch with Murtagh returning to the attack. Cooke off-drove and on-drove the home captain for a pair of crisply-struck fours before unfurling next over a regal square-cut for four to bring up the fifty stand. Carlson celebrated by also cover-driving Murtagh for four before Cooke drilled Roland-Jones for another four but with the total on 129 Carlson edged Murtagh low into Simpson’s gloves.

James Harris became Cooke’s new partner and spliced a drive against Bamber over the head of the slip fielders as the 150 came up in the 40th over. There was more certainty about his next four as he drilled Higgins through mid-off before Cooke completed his fifty by pulling Higgins to mid-wicket – his 80th delivery – but later in the over, Harris was adjudged l.b.w. to the all-rounder.

165-7 became 165-8 four balls later as Cooke became the second batter to chop a ball onto his stumps as he indie-edged a delivery from Bamber. Ajaz Patel opened his account by pulling Bamber for four before straight-driving Higgins for four and then unfurling a pair of coruscating cover drives against Bamber.

Patel’s feisty cameo continued as he opened his shoulders to on-drive Higgins for successive fours followed by a third four in the all-rounder’s next over as the 200, and Glamorgan’s first batting point, came up in the 50th over. Timm van der Gugten also flicked Roland-Jones to fine-leg for four but Patel’s merry spree ended as he under-edged a ball from Higgins with Simpson completing his fifth catch. Six runs later Higgins ended the innings as Hogan miscued a drive to a diving Roland-Jones at mid-on as Glamorgan ended on 214.

Lunchtime Report

This could be a pivotal match in determining who is promoted into Division One next summer with Glamorgan opting to take to the field with the same eleven who were in action last week in the rain-affected draw with Worcestershire at Sophia Gardens. Glamorgan had been in London in 1997 during a period of national mourning following the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, with the Welsh county meeting Surrey at The Oval during the first week of September, during which time some of their party visiting Kensington Palace to lay flowers in memory of the Princess of Wales.

A quarter of a century later, David Lloyd and his team are in action at Lord’s following the death last week of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the subsequent proclamation of King Charles III, who is currently the Patron of Glamorgan County Cricket Club. With other ceremonial and memorial events scheduled in the capital over the course of the coming days, it is somehow fitting that the new King’s county are playing at Lord’s over the new four days.

After a minute’s silence plus a rendition of the National Anthem, play got underway with David Lloyd and Eddie Byrom opening the batting after Middlesex had opted to bowl first. Their captain Tim Murtagh began at the Nursery End with Toby Roland-Jones at the Pavilion End. Byrom struck the first boundary of the game as he cover-drove Murtagh but next ball he edged into John Simpson’s gloves. Lloyd who had been joined by Shubman Gill then swatted a short ball from Roland-Jones to the ropes at mid-wicket but later in the over he had his stumps re-arranged by the seamer.

9/2 saw the arrival in the middle of Sam Northeast who punched Roland-Jones off the back foot through extra-cover before drilling Murtagh off the front foot through the covers. Gill also off-drove and square-drove Murtagh, prior to clipping him through mid-on for the third four of the over, but with the total on 48, he under-edged a pull against Roland-Jones onto his stumps. Next over, Northeast feathered a delivery from Murtagh into Simpson’s gloves
Kiran Carlson joined forces with Billy Root and firmly on-drove Roland-Jones for four before deftly steering Ryan Higgins through backward point. Root also scythed Ethan Bamber through backward point for another four but shortly afterwards he departed as he edged a ball from Higgins as the batter tried to shoulder arms to the on-loan all-rounder with Simpson completing his third catch.

70-5 saw Chris Cooke join Carlson and he opened his account with a pair of firmly-struck drives through mid-on and mid-off. Carlson also biffed Bamber through extra-cover for four before greeting the return of Roland-Jones before lunch by clipping him to backward square-leg for another boundary. He then cover-drove Higgins for another boundary shortly before lunch.

Evening Report

Playing resumed at 1645 after the loss of a further 11 overs with Patel and Carlson bowling in tandem. Simpson and Higgins each struck boundaries against Carlson with Higgins also cover-driving Patel before the new ball was taken after 80 overs with Harris and Hogan returning to the fray. However, after a further nine deliveries the rains returned.

Afternoon update

Play resumed at 1420 with 20 overs being lost from the day’s allocation and Mark Stoneman completing his hundred from 179 balls with a flick off his legs against Harris. He then drilled Hogan through mid-on for another firmly-struck four before taking a trio of fours in an over from Harris as Middlesex reached the 200-mark and their first batting point in the 63rd over. Middlesex then took the lead as Simpson on-drove Hogan for another boundary before later in the over drilling him through the covers.

Stoneman then greeted the return of Ajaz Patel to the attack by cover-driving his first delivery for four but the Kiwi made the perfect riposte and ended the fifth wicket stand as next ball Cooke deftly pouched an outside-edge from the opener’s bat. Ryan Higgins joined Simpson who cover drove Patel, before the new batter did the same when Lloyd returned at the Nursery End. Higgins also flicked Lloyd to the ropes at fine-leg but the return of the rains meant an early tea was taken after 77 overs.

Morning Update

It was a topsy-turvy day yesterday in more ways than one for the Welsh county who arrived at Lord’s seven points ahead of Middlesex and at a time of national mourning, similar to the situation 25 years ago following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, ahead of the Championship match against Surrey at The Oval. In 2022 David Lloyd and his team were in action north of the Thames and, following the start of Operation London Bridge, the hotel adjacent to Lord’s where the visiting party were scheduled to stay had been requisitioned by the Metropolitan Police ahead of the State Funeral next Monday, prompting a hasty relocation of the Welsh county’s players to other, more distant, accommodation.

Their longer journey into Lord’s may have influenced Tim Murtagh’s decision to bowl first and, with Glamorgan on 48-4, his decision seemed justified, but a gritty half-century by Chris Cooke plus some lusty blows by Ajaz Patel took Glamorgan to a batting point and after James Harris had taken three wickets for one run in the space of nine balls, the visitors were able to put a brake on Middlesex’s progress as they ended on 132-4 when bad light brought an early finish and the loss of four overs.

Michael Hogan duly completed the over from last night in tandem with Timm van der Gugten, and with the Lord’s floodlights illuminating proceedings. John Simpson struck the day’s first boundary as he cover drove the Dutchman, but both bowlers frequently beat the outside edge in their early salvo with Simpson also edging Hogan just short of Sam Northeast at second slip.

Harris and David Lloyd then had a spell together with Mark Stoneman striking his first boundary of the day as he on-drove Lloyd, before completing a second as he late-cut the visiting captain. Simpson added another boundary to his tally as he clipped Harris to mid-wicket followed a couple of overs later by a flowing off-drive. The drizzle which had been falling for several overs then intensified and the players left for an early lunch.

Close of Play Report

Glamorgan were 127-1 at tea, trailing by 49 runs as Toby Roland-Jones returned to the attack at the Nursery End. It changed the complexion of the Glamorgan innings and the game as, with his third delivery,, the seamer removed Byrom who was caught by Ethan Bamber at square-leg. Three balls later Sam Northeast edged Roland-Jones into John Simpson’s gloves as the Welsh county slipped to 128-3. Kiran Carlson was then nearly caught in the gully as he spliced a drive a few overs later against Roland-Jones, before the young tyro joined forces with an obdurate Shubman Gill.

Bamber and Murtagh then returned to the fray in a bid to make further incisions. The changes also did the trick as firstly Murtagh removed Carlson with his third delivery as the batter edged to first slip, before 143-4 became 144-5 as Billy Root edged Bamber to second slip before next over Gill got a leading edge to a delivery from Murtagh which was well caught low down by Hollman at backward point.

Chris Cooke and James Harris then defended stoutly in an attempt to stabilise Glamorgan’s position with the latter, after five successive maidens from Murtagh, off-driving the Irish international for three before clipping him to square-leg for four. Harris then punched Roland-Jones off the back foot through the covers before edging the next delivery low into Simpson’s gloves.

The Welsh county were still one run in arrears as Timm van der Gugten joined Cooke, but 175-7 swiftly became 175-8 as next over Higgins trapped Cooke l.b.w. Ajaz Patel wiped off the arrears with a cover drive before nonchalantly on-driving Roland-Jones for four. He then had a life as Robson at second slip spilled a chance but the light soon deteriorated as the umpires took the players off the field with Glamorgan on 191-8.

Teatime Update

There were 73 overs remaining in the day when Glamorgan began their second innings 176 runs in arrears with David Lloyd swatting Tim Murtagh over extra-cover for four in the opening over. Eddie Byrom then had a life as Hollman dropped a chance at third slip when Toby Roland-Jones found the edge of the opener’s bat. Lloyd then pulled and leg-glanced Roland-Jones for a pair of fours.

The boundaries continued to flow as Byrom clipped Murtagh to square-leg before Lloyd drilled him through extra-cover followed by a short-arm jab to mid-wicket. Byrom then cover-drove Roland-Jones for four before straight-driving Murtagh for another four. Lloyd then glanced Roland-Jones to fine-leg for four before square-driving Ethan Bamber for four to bring up the 50-stand.

Byrom also square-drove Bamber before Lloyd steered Higgins through backward point. Byrom then greeted the introduction of Luke Hollman’s wrist-spin by cover-driving the twirler before Lloyd completed his 63-ball fifty by pulling Higgins for a rasping four. Byrom also on-drove Hollman for successive boundaries before Lloyd drilled him through the covers followed by a delicate steer to the vacant third man ropes as the century stand came up in the 26th over.

Bamber returned to the attack at the Nursery End and was pulled for four by Byrom as well as being nurdled through point by Lloyd. Murtagh also returned at the Pavilion End and was edged to third man by Lloyd but it was Bamber who made the breakthrough as shortly before tea, Lloyd edged again, this time to Sam Robson in the gully and departed for 70.

Morning Update

Only 44.1 overs were possible yesterday because of a combination of rain and bad light, but meteorological conditions were much improved this morning, allowing a prompt resumption at 1030 with 104.3 overs in the day’s quota and the Glamorgan attack armed with a ball just nine deliveries old. Ryan Higgins began by pulling the day’s first delivery from Michael Hogan to the boundary boards at mid-wicket. Simpson repeated the stroke in James Harris’ second over and nearly holed out to a diving Billy Root at backward square-leg, before edging Hogan just in front of David Lloyd at first slip. But later in the over, Simpson’s relatively charmed life ended as he was bowled by Hogan.

295-6 dramatically became 295-7 as Harris sent Higgins’ middle stump cartwheeling out of the ground. Luke Hollman brought up the 300 with a cover drive against Harris before repeating the stroke to the Mound Stand boundary against Hogan. Toby Roland-Jones also unfurled a pair of cover-drives against David Lloyd when the visiting captain replaced Harris at the Nursery End before Hollman biffed him through cover.

Ajaz Patel ended their stand when he came on at the Pavilion End with Roland-Jones edging the Kiwi into Shubman Gill’s hands at slip. 342-8 saw Ethan Bamber join Hollman who cover-drove and reverse-swept Patel to see Middlesex to the 350-mark in the 104th over and another batting point. He celebrated by punching Patel off the back foot through extra-cover before unfurling another reverse-sweep. Bamber then pulled van der Gugten for four before in the 110th over Patel had Bamber caught at slip by Lloyd as Glamorgan secured their third bowling point with two deliveries remaining.

Hollman then completed his fifty from 79 balls before lofting Patel for a straight six. He then swatted Harris to mid-on where Gill held the catch as Middlesex ended on 390.

Close of Play report

Glamorgan had lost seven wickets in a dramatic final session yesterday and one which was curtailed by bad light around 1830pm. The upshot was that the Welsh county began the final morning leading by just 15 runs and with just two wickets in hand.

It took Middlesex 27 minutes and 6.5 overs to polish off Glamorgan’s resistance as Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh resumed the bowling to Timm van der Gugten and Ajaz Patel. The former pulled Murtagh for four before the latter who had nearly holed out to Ethan Bamber at mid-on in the third over, drove Roland-Jones into Murtagh’s hands at mid-off. Michael Hogan drilled Roland-Jones through mid-off for four before unleashing another lusty blow as he plonked Murtagh over mid-on for four. However, he perished next over as he attempted to repeat the shot against Roland-Jones and holed out to Bamber as Glamorgan ended on 220.

This left Middlesex needing 45 to win with Harris and Patel sharing the bowling duties to Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson. Stoneman drove Harris for four before sweeping Patel for another boundary, with Robson also dispatching successive deliveries from Harris through extra-cover before clipping him to fine-leg. Robson then straight-drove Patel for four before clipping him to fine-leg, with Stoneman then straight-driving Harris, before lofting Patel to the mid-wicket ropes to seal a ten-wicket victory.