With three matches played, Middlesex and Gloucestershire met at Lord’s to settle the issue of who will leave with the indignity of propping up the County Championship Division Two. Middlesex had 12 points from three matches and Gloucestershire was one below in last place with 6 points, although they had played a game less. The recent rule change that banned the use of heavy rollers during matches has controlled the pancake pitches of last year, but are they as bowler-friendly as they might seem at first glance.

Gloucestershire chose to bat yesterday. Abdul-Kadeer Ali made just 7, before Middlesex’s New Zealander Iain O’Brien, bowled him – the first of seven wickets the fast bowler took. O’Brien relished the opportunity to share the new ball with Tim Murtagh as Steven Finn was rested as part of the performance squad by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) – a measure that allows them to rest up to 27 players they believe will be important for England.

O’Brien seized his chance, ripping through Gloucestershire’s batting to claim figures of 7 for 48 from 21.2 overs. His bowling was impressive, but the batsmen played a part in their own downfall with poor shot selection. Daniel Evans – a late replacement for Toby Roland-Jones – made the most of his opportunity as second change after Jonathan Batty and Chris Dent saw off Murtagh and O’Brien – with a wicket maiden. With 19 runs to his name, Dent edged him to wicketkeeper John Simpson, who took the easy chance.

At 46 for 2, Hamish Marshall came to the crease and quickly took the lead role, believing that attack was by far the best form of defence. Batty took the more serene option of occupation of the crease to build an innings. Marshall’s ninth boundary boundary brought up a thoroughly deserved and entertaining half century. The batsmen enjoyed their lunch. There was no indication of the carnage to follow.

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Marshall was the first to go – one run short of a century partnership. Having scored at a run a ball for his 72, that included twelve fours, Marshall fell on his seventy-third ball to a loose and unnecessary shot. Trying to pull, O’Brien, he mistimed his stroke completely and presented a dolly catch to Sam Robson at mid-off. He left to deserved ovation from the crowd. It was 145 for 3.

At 145 for 2, Gloucestershire would have expected a score comfortably over 300. Instead they lost eights wickets for just 123 runs. Marshall’s 72 was the top score. Batty moved carefully on to the half-century that was his for the taking, or rather it should have been. He watched as captain Alex Gidman threw his wicket away for 18 to his opposite number, Shaun Udal, but 177 for 4 became 177 for 5 as Batty’s defences were penetrated by Evans with the aid of the toe end of his bat. His 49 included seven boundaries.

Chris Taylor and James Franklin had to repair the damage, steering their team comfortably past 200. Their partnership was worth 49, with Taylor taking the lead. His 32 included five fours, before he was caught by the substitute fielder Roland-Jones. Steven Snell had been due to bat at number 3. He lasted one ball, caught by Robson. O’Brien was on a hat-trick. Jonathan Lewis survived it. That was the cue for Franklin to cut loose.

Lewis, Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby proved no match for O’Brien, who accounted for them all. Lewis was leg before wicket for 11. Hussain made a single before he was caught by Udal and Murtagh took the catch to end Gloucestershire’s innings for 268. Franklin deserved a half century, but was left stranded on 44 not out. His knock included three fours and two sixes.

O’Brien led Middlesex off the field to an excellent and deserved ovation, although Gloucestershire had contributed to their own downfall. Middlesex was to outdo them.

Wasted Opportunity:

Scott Newman failed again, caught behind by Batty for 1. Franklin took the wicket on 7 – the same score the visitors lost their first wicket. That brought Owais Shah to the crease for his first innings since his return from the Indian Premier League. England captain Andrew Strauss occupied the other end. Shah’s innings included four boundaries in his 20, before he was adjudged lbw to Steve Kirby – the first of his 4 victims.

37 for 2 soon became 49 for 4 as Strauss uncharacteristically threw his wicket away. Dent took the catch at third slip. Strauss was out for just 18, with only two fours in his innings. O’Brien has few pretensions to batting prowess. He lasted one ball, edging Kirby to Batty for a duck. Robson had to come to the crease after all.

Middlesex reached stumps without further mishap. Dawid Malan was unbeaten on 10 and Robson was unbeaten on 16. 71 for 4 became 76 for 5 as Robson went early after adding a single in the second morning. Gemaal Hussain took the first of three wickets on his way to a haul of 3 for 50 from 13.5 overs. Robson was caught in the slips by Dent for 17. That brought Simpson to the wicket – the last of Middlesex’s recognised batsmen.

He put 35 with Malan, before Jonathan Lewis tempted Malan into an indiscretion that was pouched by Batty. His 25 included five fours. Gareth Berg made just 4 as 111 for 6 became 124 for 7. Berg was also caught in the slips, this time by Snell. Hussain took the wicket.

Recovery:

That pair had at least avoided the indignity of having to follow on after a comparatively low score. Shaun Udal joined Simpson and the pair threatened to bring respectability to what had been a bad effort. They took lunch at 154 for 7, but it affected Simpson’s concentration. He failed to improve on his total of 43 that included six fours. Snell took another catch. Franklin was the bowler. At 157 for 8, Udal decided that it was time to strike a blow for the over 40 club.

Marshall had previously dropped a difficult return catch before lunch. It proved costly as Udal bludgeoned his way to a half-century – Middlesex’s top score. Udal was finally ninth out for 55, having just seen his team post what had looked an unlikely double century after Simpson's departure. Murtagh was unbeaten on 10 with two boundaries when Udal fell pulling Kirby. Ali took a fine low catch on the boundary.

Udal’s resistance lasted 77 balls and included eight fours and a six. One run later it was all over. Middlesex was all out for just 203. Evans was last out for a single, after edging Hussain to Batty. Middlesex lasted less than 65 overs. Franklin took 2 for 42 from 15 overs and Hussain pressed his credentials with 3 for 50 from 13.5 overs – doing all his damage on the second day. Kirby added one to his overnight haul, taking his tally from 3 for 23 from 6 overs yesterday evening to 4 for 50 from 14.

471 runs had been scored in four and a half sessions for the loss of twenty wickets. O’Brien had bowled splendidly and Kirby had been impressive in his first spell, but poor shot selection seemed more responsible for the low scoring than the rule change on heavy rollers. Middlesex trailed by 65 on the first innings. Advantage Gloucestershire, but it was far from over.