Middlesex Vs. Lancashire Championship Day One 4th September

Neil Dexter century saves hosts on day one.

Neil Dexter scored an impressive 123 not out

after hosts Middlesex had initially stumbled

to 39-3. His efforts have frustrated last seasons

champions Lancashire, who are in need of a win

to avoid relegation to Division Two. Glen

Chapple ended with figures of 2-60 after taking

a wicket with the fifth ball of the day, but like

most Lancashire’s bowler, experienced a

frustrating evening session at the hands of Neil

Dexter and Gareth Berg (83)

The early wicket of Chris Rogers (0), LBW to Chapple with the fifth ball of the day, encouraged visitors Lancashire towards the result that was needed to avoid relegation and they continued to advance in the morning session. Joe Denly shortly followed, scoring just 4 before he edged behind to Gareth Cross, as Chapple struck once more.  The hosts then stuttered to 39-3, with David Malan being cleanly bowled by Ajmal Shahzad for 12.

Sam Robson (49) and Neil Dexter constructed the first frustrating partnership of the day, adding 63 for the fourth wicket. Robson will have been disappointed however as he fell one short of his fifty, trapped LBW to Simon Kerrigan. John Simpson, originally a Lancastrian, would form a similarly strong partnership with Dexter worth 62, to reduce the impact made by the visitors in the morning session. Simpson was eventually out for 29, edging behind off of Kyle Hogg, with the match poised evenly at 164-5. Neil Dexter brought up his 50 from 109 balls, scoring 9 fours, as Lancashire fought back in the afternoon session.

The introduction of Gareth Berg however would promise to hurt Lancashire’s chances of victory, as Middlesex added an impressive 148 runs for the sixth wicket. Dexter reached his hundred from 193 balls in 265 minutes with 14 fours, as Middlesex commanded the game after an imposing start from the relegation candidates. Gareth Berg assisted Dexter nicely and he soon reached his fifty from 81 balls with 3 fours. Berg continued to score freely but fell seventeen short of a century of his own, edging behind off of Kyle Hogg.

With the home side on 312-6, the frustration was far from over for Lancashire, as another former Lancashire player, Steven Crook, contributed to an already daunting first innings total. An unbeaten stand worth 77 included some eye catching shots from Steven Crook, who has his sights set on a fifty. Middlesex closed on 389-6, with Dexter involved his fourth fifty partnership of day one and unbeaten on 123.