Middlesex show fight thanks to Gubbins knock
Surrey 415: Roy 110; Harris 3-98, Franklin 2-42
Middlesex 249-5: Gubbins 82, Simpson 52*; Ansari 2-61
Close, day two: Middlesex trail Surrey by 166 runs
Despite an eye-catching 82 from Nick Gubbins and a watchful half-century by John Simpson, Middlesex were made to work hard with the bat on day two at Lord’s and remain up against it.
Earlier in the day, Surrey converted their overnight 384-8 into maximum batting points, adding 31 runs for the final two wickets.
In reply, Middlesex suffered the early blow of losing Stevie Eskinazi for eight, lbw to Tom Curran, and Nick Compton for 11.
The England man, batting for the first time in a senior match since the third Test against Sri Lanka in June, looked out of sorts and was undone by an inswinging ball from Stuart Meaker, which flattened his off stump off an inside edge.
Gubbins and Dawid Malan then added 80 for the third wicket, the former moving to a 100-ball half-century that included nine fours and a lofted six over long-on off Zafar Ansari.
Ansari got his revenge, however, striking twice in 12 deliveries – Malan was caught at short leg by Dominic Sibley for 31 and Gubbins was bowled around his legs attempting a sweep.
George Bailey and Simpson put on 70 in 19 overs, before the Tasmanian fell lbw for 37, shaping to sweep Gareth Batty.
Simpson, who launched Ansari straight down the ground for six shortly before the close, hit a valuable 52 not out and joined James Franklin (16 not out) in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand that was not only worth 45 but also kept Middlesex in a hard-fought contest.
