by Michael McCann
at Lords

Middlesex secured a nine-wicket victory over Hampshire on the last day at Lords, claiming a fourth Division One success this season.

The visitors made just 176 all out before 87 from Nick Compton helped Middlesex ensure a 154-run first innings lead.

Hampshire fared little better second time around, scoring 227 all out as James Harris took four wickets in both innings, before the hosts reached 77-1 to win comfortably.

Middlesex claim 22 points, remaining third in Divison One, whilst Hampshire took just two, and will be bottom after this round of matches.

The hosts had dominated throughout — Tim Murtagh having Jimmy Adams caught behind from the fourth ball of the contest provided an apt metaphor for what followed.

Harris and Toby Roland-Jones took four wickets each as only Joe Gatting provided some resistance, scoring a 64 from 86 balls that bristled with aggressive intent.

Five of Hampshire’s top six had made between 13 and 23, only managing starts rather than innings that defined the match – Roland-Jones dismissed three of them.

Paul Stirling led Middlesex to 59-0 overnight, though the hosts fell to 113-5 on the second morning, as former Middlesex player Gareth Berg dismissed Sam Robson and James Franklin.

Bradley Wheal bowled Joe Burns and had England one-day international captain Eoin Morgan caught for a duck in the same over, taking 4-101.

Compton and Simpson instigated a recovery though, the latter making an assertive 87, the former an atypically restrained 64 from 200 balls.

The pair put on 113 for the sixth wicket, before Ollie Rayner scored an admirably patient 52 from 149 balls to manage the hosts to 298-8 on stumps at day two.

That became 330 all out early on day three, with Rayner well supported by Harris (15) and Roland-Jones (14).

Hampshire improved little in their second innings, with Harris having both Adams and Michael Carberry caught behind through excellent swing bowling.

The seamer then castled James Vince for the second time in the match to leave Hampshire at 56-3, though opener Sean Terry made a defiant 52 from 171 balls.

Vince, Carberry and Adams still have not managed a first-class hundred between them in 48 innings this season, reflective of the visitors’ batting woes.

Adam Wheater made an assertive half-century, driving Ollie Rayner for four boundaries in nine balls, scoring in just 25 balls what Will Smith managed in 102.

However the spinner had his revenge, dismissing both batsman and Joe Gatting to take an impressive 3-44, including 14 maidens, leaving Hampshire 178-7 overnight.

Harris returned to have Wheal LBW, finishing with 4-80 and match figures of 8-128, leaving the seamer on 49 Championship wickets this season.

Middlesex enjoyed a comfortable run-chase, 77-1 in 17.4 overs led by 36 not out from Sam Robson, with Berg bowling Stirling for 16 to claim the only wicket of the innings.