MIDDLESEX v NOTTS DAY TWO
Nottinghamshire 326 Middlesex 296-4
Bonus points: Middlesex 5, Nottinghamshire 4
Robson hit a chanceless unbeaten ton, while Morgan made 86, the duo sharing a double century stand to pull the hosts from the mire of 19-2 to the comfort of 296-4, just 30 runs short of Notts’ tally of 326.
Apart from a scratchy first half an hour against Luke Fletcher’s testing new ball spell opener Robson was imperious, punching drives through mid-off and mid-on with regularity against some less than impressive bowling from the visitors.
After five centuries for the England Performance and Lions’ squads over the winter and another in pre-season against Hampshire this was further evidence the Aussie-born right-hander is making a compelling case to fill England’s up for grabs opener’s spot for the first Test against Sri Lanka in June.
He even outscored Morgan in the double century partnership which swung the game the way of Angus Fraser’s men.
Nevertheless Morgan, who gave up his spot in the IPL auction after being advised by the ECB he was back in contention for a spot in England’s middle-order following the winter Ashes debacle played strongly.
The Irish left-hander put behind him his nightmare start to the season at Hove last week to plunder runs especially square of the wicket courtesy of some savage trademark cut shots.
He will be disappointed to miss out on a century, but he has given the west Londoners the opportunity to press home their advantage on day three.
We should not forget the day started with another England discard Steven Finn showing continuing signs of a return to form as he completed a second consecutive fifer with the wicket of Andrew Carter.
There was also finally reward for the persevering Tim Murtagh when Luke Fletcher holed out to skipper Chris Rogers at deep mid-off to wrap up the innings at 326.
What already looked an above par score looked positively gargantuan when Fletcher struck twice in the 10th over of the hosts’ reply.
Rogers, named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year for 2013, will not be proud of his waft at a ball too wide to be playing at, while Malan fell four balls later, no foot movement leading to him feathering a thin edge to wicketkeeper Chris Read.
Yet, faced with a team who had collapsed horribly twice last week at Hove, Notts failed to press home the advantage, bowling negatively wide of the stumps, so wasting the new ball and allowing an initially nervous Robson to find his feet.
Lunch came at 60-2 and Robson and Morgan’s dominance continued throughout the afternoon session.
Both raised half centuries with 24-year-old Robson reaching a century including 13 4s just before tea.
A record partnership for the third wicket against Notts – one of 225 held by Ed Joyce and Owais Shah - was in sight when Morgan went for an injudicious hook shot and gloved one to Read to depart for 86 as double nelson (222) brought a wicket.
Adam Rossington got off the mark with a six, but never looked comfortable and when he fell LBW to Carter for 8 at 237-4 Middlesex looked vulnerable once more.
Yet Robson, now more circumspect batted on to reach 144 at the close, by which time he and the enterprising John Simpson (32 not out) had added 59 for the fifth wicket.
With the second new ball just nine overs old and the odd one already keeping low Middlesex still have plenty of work to do to build the necessary first-innings lead.
