Middlesex fearing relegation despite Patel’s heroics

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Middlesex spinner Ravi Patel returned another five-wicket haul against Somerset – but his side are facing the prospect of relegation to County Championship Division Two.

Patel added five wickets to his seven from the first innings at Taunton as Somerset declared on 250-9 and then claimed three Middlesex scalps before rain curtailed the day’s play.

The home side need seven more to secure victory and confirm their own top-flight survival, which would condemn Middlesex to the drop unless Hampshire also lose to bottom side Warwickshire.

That means Middlesex fans will be casting an anxious eye towards events at Edgbaston, where Hampshire – set a victory target of 259 – closed at 20-1 overnight.

Resuming at 159-3, Somerset set their sights on quick runs, with 24 coming from the first three overs before skipper Tom Abell (45) reverse-swept Patel to slip.

James Hildreth ploughed on to reach his century and stretch Somerset’s advantage beyond 300 before finally having his off stump uprooted by James Harris for 109.

Meanwhile, Patel continued to pick up wickets, with Roelof van der Merwe blazing 24 from 19 balls before he miscued to backward point to complete the spinner’s second five-for of the game.

Abell eventually declared, setting Middlesex a nominal target of 345 and an awkward half-hour to survive until lunch – which they failed to manage.

Sam Robson was dropped by Abell at cover and was then given another life through the slips before Jack Leach found the edge again to prise him out for eight.

Nick Compton (10) followed in the third over after lunch, playing back to Leach, and Middlesex sank to 28-3 when fellow spinner Dom Bess had Dawid Malan caught behind for a duck.

Stevie Eskinazi and Adam Voges saw the visitors to 40-3 before the heavens opened – but the chances are that their fate will rest with Warwickshire’s bowlers on the final day of the season.