Middlesex miss out after Wright heroics

Middlesex 499-8 & 50-3 drew with Sussex 222 & 454
Middlesex 10pts, Sussex 5pts

A career-best innings from England all-rounder Luke Wright forced Middlesex to settle for a draw on an exciting final day at Lord’s.

The home side looked to be closing in on victory when Tim Murtagh struck with the first ball after lunch to leave Sussex on 304-7, a lead of just 27.

But Wright anchored a defiant Sussex fightback with a superb 187, and some aggressive hitting late on set Middlesex a tough victory target of 178 from 20 overs.

Chris Rogers set about the task positively but with the asking rate increasing both sides accepted the draw after eight overs.

It leaves both Middlesex and Sussex as the only undefeated sides after the first seven Championship matches of the season.

However, having built up a mammoth first innings lead of 277 and forced Sussex to follow-on, Rogers admitted afterwards it had ‘hurt’ to miss out on a win.

Sussex began the last day on 228-4, 49 runs behind, but that deficit was eliminated by Wright and Ed Joyce to ensure Middlesex would have to bat again.

The combination of Murtagh and the new ball did the trick though, as Joyce edged to Ollie Rayner at slip for 98, ending a match-changing stand worth 159.

James Harris deceived Ben Brown with a lifting delivery that the wicket-keeper could only parry to Adam London and Murtagh removed Chris Jordan with the first ball after lunch to leave Middlesex in sight of victory.

But Wright and Will Beer launched a counter-attack with some impressive shots as the home bowlers began to toil on a pitch offering little assistance.

Both reached personal milestones during a partnership of 101. Wright surpassed his highest County Championship score of 134 while Beer made his best first-class score, before gloving a Rayner delivery to Gareth Berg for 39.

After tea, Wright quickened the pace with a succession of boundaries, chalking up a career-best score of 187 before being stumped off a Joe Denly delivery.

Steve Magoffin was the last man out as Sussex were dismissed for 454.

This set up a potentially exciting conclusion with all three results possible in a tense final 20 overs.

A reshuffled order saw Denly open with Rogers and they began the chase with early boundaries.

However, the wickets of Denly and Neil Dexter made the task all the more unlikely and when Gareth Berg was dismissed, Rogers offered the draw – and Sussex duly accepted.

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