Finn stars as bowlers dominate at Lord’s

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Close, day one: Middlesex 64-3 trail Yorkshire 178 by 114 runs

Steve Finn’s superb start to the season continued with four more wickets as Middlesex shaded a bowler-friendly first day at Lord’s.

Tim Murtagh (3-48) and James Harris (3-42) also made telling contributions as Yorkshire were bowled out for just 178 before tea.

England star Joe Root, captaining his county for the first time, was out for a duck while Test hopeful Gary Ballance made just 20.

Middlesex lost openers Chris Rogers and Sam Robson cheaply in reply but recovered to ??-? by the time fading light forced an early finish.

With the overhead conditions offering something for the bowlers, Middlesex put Yorkshire in having won the toss and were rewarded with four wickets before lunch.

Murtagh struck in the third over, having Alex Lees caught behind, but the visitors stabilised with a 50 partnership between Adam Lyth (34) and New Zealander Kane Williamson (30).

That was ended by a Finn delivery which strangled Lyth down the leg side and wicket-keeper Simpson took another catch.

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale had dropped himself to accommodate Root as the youngster looks to play himself into form ahead of the summer Test series with Sri Lanka and India.

But he lasted just eight balls as Finn trapped him lbw and after Williamson was pouched at slip by Ollie Rayner off Harris, Yorkshire went to lunch on 76-4.

That became 113-7 during the afternoon session as Middlesex made full use of the moving ball to take three wickets in seven overs, including that of the dangerous Ballance.

But former England all-rounder Liam Plunkett led a counter-attack with an unbeaten 56 from 55 balls, and shared a stand of 48 with ex-Test seamer Ryan Sidebottom.

Finn broke the partnership and he and Murtagh dealt with the final two batsmen as Yorkshire were skittled for 178.

Middlesex’s reply got off to a terrible start as they lost both openers inside the first six overs.

The door was briefly ajar for Yorkshire but Dawid Malan and Neil Dexter started finding the boundary rope to take the hosts to 57-2.

Malan was bowled by Sidebottom and only a couple more overs were possible before bad light, and then showers, halted play for the day.

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