Openers lead superb Middlesex fightback

Middlesex 166 and 283-2 lead Surrey 338 by 111 runs

Chris Rogers and Sam Robson both scored centuries to lead a magnificent fightback after Middlesex were forced to follow-on at Lord’s.

Their opening stand of 259, which came to an end late in the day when Robson fell for 129, was the club’s highest first-wicket partnership against Surrey, breaking a 106-year-old record.

More importantly it wiped out the handsome first innings lead that Surrey had secured when they took the final Middlesex wicket at the start of the third day.

By the close, Middlesex had reached 283-2, with Rogers unbeaten on 131 – and their lead of 111 has even put them in with a shout of forcing victory on the last day.

The stunning rearguard action shows how much can change during one day’s play.

When Corey Collymore was trapped lbw by Zander De Bruyn, Middlesex had added just five to their overnight score and were asked to follow-on, still 172 runs adrift.

But with Surrey sensing the chance to inflict further damage, they instead came up against the twin brick walls, Rogers and Robson.

Rain intervened briefly early in the Middlesex reply but not even that could disrupt the openers’ concentration.

Both batsmen have been in fantastic form so far this season and they clocked up their third 100 partnership of the campaign during the afternoon session.

By tea they had moved that on to 161-0 and shortly after the interval the pair wiped out the first innings deficit to etch more worry lines on the face of Surrey skipper Graeme Smith.

Rogers was the first to make 100 and partner Robson soon followed, having also passed 3,000 First Class runs.

But all good things must come to an end and the partnership was broken by Zander de Bruyn, who had Robson caught behind for 129.

Joe Denly joined Rogers and they took the Middlesex lead past the psychologically important 100 mark.

Surrey struck again in the final half hour as Jade Dernbach accounted for Denly, with Vikram Solanki taking the catch.

But it was undoubtedly Middlesex’s day – and, incredibly given the state of play 24 hours ago, all three results are still possible going into Sunday.

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