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Middlesex indebted to John Simpson fifty in low-scoring tussle

John Simpson acknowledges his fifty Getty Images

Middlesex 144 and 233 for 6 (Simpson 59*) lead Worcestershire 171 (Baker 61*, Murtagh 5-64) by 206 runs

John Simpson led Middlesex's fightback from 39 for 4 with an unbeaten half-century in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash against Worcestershire.

A three-wicket burst by Charlie Morris had put the visitors on top at Lord's, with Middlesex only 12 ahead after teenager Josh Baker's maiden half-century saddled them with a first-innings deficit of 27. Tim Murtagh finished with 5 for 64 as Worcestershire were eventually bowled out for 171.

Max Holden and Martin Andersson both contributed valuable runs before Simpson's unbroken stand of 80 with Luke Hollman steered the Seaxes to 233 for 6 at stumps, an overall advantage of 206.

Looking to wrap up Worcestershire's first innings quickly in the morning, the home side were thwarted by Baker, who bludgeoned a series of boundaries. The 18-year-old heaved Murtagh through midwicket to reach fifty and slammed the bowler's next delivery back past him for four more, eventually finishing unbeaten on 61 from 51 balls.

Murtagh completed his five-for by clean bowling Morris but, by the time last man Dillon Pennington was leg before to Hollman, Worcestershire had added 58 in 45 minutes.

By contrast, Mark Stoneman took the same time to register a duck as he became the first of two victims for Morris before lunch - the other, Stephen Eskinazi, falling to a blinding catch by Gareth Roderick at midwicket.

Morris collected his third straight after the interval when Robbie White edged to second slip and, with Sam Robson caught behind off Joe Leach's outswinger in the next over, Middlesex appeared to be sinking fast.

However, Andersson went for his shots, timing the ball nicely and finding the gaps as he and Holden levered their side out of trouble, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 66. Ed Barnard broke the partnership by trapping Andersson in front for 45, but Holden looked set for his second half-century of the match as he unfurled some eye-catching strokes, the best of them a hook for four off Pennington.

The left-hander survived a couple of chances but his good fortune ran out at 46, with Daryl Mitchell - who had missed an earlier opportunity to remove Holden - taking a thick edge at second slip.

There was a close call for Simpson on 48 when he hammered Barnard to midwicket but Baker was unable to cling on and the batter took advantage, progressing to 59 not out at the close, with Hollman undefeated on 40.

Worcs 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st12DKH MitchellJD Libby
2nd8DKH MitchellGH Roderick
3rd19GH RoderickJA Haynes
4th12GH RoderickBL D'Oliveira
5th43GH RoderickEG Barnard
6th4OB CoxGH Roderick
7th15J LeachGH Roderick
8th2GH RoderickJO Baker
9th3GH RoderickCAJ Morris
10th1GH RoderickDY Pennington

County Championship

Division 1
TeamMWLDPT
NOTTS431068
LANCS421157
WARKS421156
HANTS421153
YORKS412140
SOM404014
Division 2
TeamMWLDPT
ESSEX430177
GLOUC431064
DURH311140
NHNTS412138
SUR301227
GLAM403123
Division 3
TeamMWLDPT
KENT440083
MIDDX431067
WORCS422049
LEICS412143
DERBS412142
SUSS404018
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Group 2
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SOM10415148
HANTS10424145
GLOUC10532131
SUR10226123
LEICS10244111
MIDDX1027184
Group 3
TeamMWLDPT
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YORKS10514149
GLAM10226127
NHNTS10334123
KENT1003797
SUSS1015494