Middlesex Facing First Defeat as On-Loan Somerset Batter Helps Hosts Build Commanding Lead
Leicestershire, UK – Middlesex are staring at their first defeat of the Vitality County Championship season after Leicestershire gained a firm grip on their match at the Uptonsteel County Ground.
Leicestershire, bolstered by the presence of on-loan Somerset players Lewis Goldsworthy and Ben Green, amassed 311 for 8 in their second innings, stretching their lead over Middlesex to a daunting 404 runs before rain forced an early end to the day’s play.
Middlesex Bowlers Struggle Against Solid Batting
Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 5 for 76, but his side’s first-innings collapse for just 86 had already handed Leicestershire a substantial 93-run lead. Despite the uneven bounce in the pitch, Goldsworthy (75) and Harry Swindells (45) added 101 for the fifth wicket, while Ben Green’s unbeaten 71 in a 71-run stand with Ben Mike further strengthened Leicestershire’s position.
“It remains difficult to envisage a draw, barring significant rain delays. Middlesex will need to produce one of the highest fourth-innings scores in their history to secure an unlikely victory.”
While the pitch proved less bowler-friendly as the day progressed, it remains challenging for Middlesex to avoid their first defeat of the season.
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