Middlesex resumed at 251-4, a lead of 63 and Razzaq and Joyce soon began to dominate, batting out the 1st session to virtually wipe out any chance of a result. The partnership was finally broken when Razzaq was caught of Middlebrook, one of the spinners’ five victims. Paul Weekes soon followed, falling lbw to Brant without scoring.

Ben Hutton then joined Joyce to add vital runs and put any hopes of an Essex win out of the question. After he was caught off Middlebrook, Cook and Keegan both followed for ducks, leaving Joyce 84 not out with only Joe Dawes to come. But Joyce didn’t hang around and he brought up a deserved hundred soon after and went on to share in a stand of 68 with Dawes, who made a fine 32 not out. Of course, this wasn’t the 1st large last wicket stand against Essex, Phil Tufnell and David Nash added their own hefty stand against the same team during last year’s Southgate feastival.

Essex then negotiated 9 overs of their 2nd innings without any alarm, to finish on 41-0, when the game was eventually called a draw.

Day three:

Middlesex produced a solid display with the bat as they seek to save the championship game against Essex. After being 188 behind on 1st innings, we reached 251-4 at the close, 63 ahead.

Day two:
Things got a little better for Middlesex when half of todays play was abandoned due to bad light. The lack of time may help Middlesex secure a draw. Essex progressed to 356/7 before the umpires called the day to an early end.

Day one:
The season got off to a nightmare start today with Middlesex looking prime candidates for religation with a poor display at Chelmsford. 45 from Hutton and 42 from Koenig saved the day as Middx ended on 214 all out. Essex were 164/4 in reply after 45 overs. Just 50 runs behind.

SCORES:

Middlesex 1st innings:

Strauss c Robinson b Dakin 1
Koenig c Foster b Whippy 42
Shah run out 13
Nash lbw b Dakin 0
Joyce lbw b Dakin 28
Abdur Razzaq c Foster b Whippy 0
Weekes lbw b Brant 31
Hutton not out 45
Cook lbw b Dakin 22
Keegan st Foster b Middlebrook 24
Dawes c Jefferson b Middlebrook 2

Extras 6

Total (all out, 59 overs) 214


Essex 1st innings:

Robinson b Cook 83
Jefferson b Dawes 56
Grayson c Nash b Abdur Razzaq 7
Flower c Shah b Cook 7
Middlebrook c Weekes b Keegan 36
Habib lbw b Weekes 34
Whippy lbw b Abdur Razzaq 69
Foster b Keegan 32
Dakin c Dawes b Abdur Razzaq 52
Brant lbw b Keegan 0
McGarry not out 4

Extras 22

Total (7 wickets, 107.3 overs) 402


Middlesex 2nd innings:

Strauss lbw b Middlebrook 40
Koenig c Foster b Dakin 94
Shah c Habib b Grayson 46
Nash c Robinson b Grayson 42
Joyce b Robinson 117
Abdur Razzaq c Habib b Middlebrook 81
Weekes lbw b Brant 0
Hutton c Flower b Middlebrook 23
Cook lbw b Middlebrook 0
Keegan c Grayson b Middlebrook 0
Dawes not out 32

Extras 20

Total (all out, 172.5 overs) 495

James Middlebrook took 5-172


Essex 2nd innings:

Robinson not out 23
Jefferson not out 18

Extras 0

Total (for no wicket, 9 overs) 41

Did not bat: Grayson, Flower, Whippy, Habib, Foster, Dakin, Middlebrook, Brant, McGarry.

Result: Match drawn

Points: Essex 12, Middlesex 8.

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