MIDDLESEX v YORKSHIRE – DAY ONE
MIDDLESEX won the toss and elected to field
Yorkshire 178 all out
Middlesex 64-3
After Middlesex enjoyed a rare success with the toss, the England quick continued his vibrant start to the county campaign with a four-wicket haul including the scalp of fellow England hopeful Joe Root for a five-ball duck.
Gary Balance also failed to advance his cause as he fell for 20 in conditions conducive to seam bowling as the Tykes were bowled out for 178 just before tea – a tally which would have been much worse but for Liam Plunkett almost a run a ball half century.
However, leading candidate for the opener’s slot for the first Test against Sri Lanka in June Sam Robson did no better in his turn, out for just seven as two wickets for Jack Brooks left the hosts’ fragile batting line-up creaking at 64-3 when bad light and rain forced an early close.
While Finn stole the headlines it was the ever-dependable Tim Murtagh who made the early breakthrough when Alex Lees (2) got an inside edge to one which came back on him and John Simpson took a routine catch behind the stumps.
The only half century stand of the day followed as Adam Lyth and Kane Williamson looked to have steered Yorkshire through a gloomy pre-lunch period, but Finn got lucky to strangle the former out caught by Simpson down the leg side for 34.
That brought Root to the crease captain for the day in place of Andrew Gale who left himself out in favour of the young England hopeful.
Sadly for Root in these conditions, early season he was no match for Finn who had already had one close shout for leg before pinning his man right back on the stumps and having him absolutely plumb.
At 55-3 Yorkshire were on the back foot and Middlesex claimed a fourth wicket on the stroke of lunch when James Harris, too full in his first spell, tempted Williamson into an ill-advised drive at a wide one and Ollie Rayner clung on to a stunning catch diving to his right at second slip.
The giant spinner repeated the trick soon after the resumption to send Adil Rashid packing for just six, giving Murtagh his second wicket of the day
Andrew Hodd did not last long before he edged to slip off Harris and when Ballance departed soon afterwards edging Harris to Robson at third slip the white rose county were deep in trouble at 113-7.
It should have been 117-8, but having caught two blinders Rayner grassed an easier chance off an edge from Ryan Sidebottom with the score on just 117.
In what is likely to be a low scoring match it may prove a costly miss as the reprieved tail ender provided staunch support to Plunkett (56) who was savage on some short pitch bowling by the otherwise excellent Finn.
The pair added 48 before Finn found the edge of Sidebottom’s bat giving Robson his second catch of the day and when he castled Steve Paterson for just 2 the end was in sight.
It came when Murtagh scattered Jack Brooks stumps to send the players in for an early tea.
With 37 overs left in the day the focus was now on Middlesex’s much vaunted opening pair of Chris Rogers and Robson, but an impressive spell by Brooks accounted for them both with just 20 on the board.
Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan counter attacked with the former hitting seven fours.
However, the former lost his off-stump to Sidebottom for 31 just before the weather closed in to leave the game delicately poised.
Much will depend on Morgan when play resumes at 11 o’clock.
