Yorkshire leave Middlesex with uphill task

Close, day two: Middlesex 16-1 trail Yorkshire 390 by 374 runs

Middlesex have plenty to do with the bat to get themselves back into the match at Lord’s after losing opener Sam Robson late on Wednesday.

Having bowled Yorkshire out for 390, the hosts’ reply suffered a blow as Robson edged to slip just eight balls before the close of play.

Earlier, the fit-again James Harris – whose bowling had been curtailed by a side strain on Tuesday – took 3-48, including removing centurion Alex Lees with the first ball of the day.

Tim Murtagh and Ollie Rayner also chipped in with three wickets but Andrew Gale (103) and Adil Rashid (72) helped the Tykes to an imposing total.

Spectators at the Home of Cricket saw fewer interruptions than on day one, when 19 overs were lost during five rain delays.

The home fans will have been relieved to see Harris fit enough to bowl and even more delighted when he had Lees caught behind for 100 with the opening delivery, breaking a stand of 145.

Joe Sayers fell cheaply, trapped lbw by Murtagh, to leave Yorkshire on 220-4 – but that was as good as Middlesex’s morning got, as Gale and Rashid wrested back the initiative.

Rashid reached 50 and Gale brought up his century in a partnership of 109 before lunch, ended when Rayner had Gale lbw.

There were brief flurries of resistance in the lower order but Middlesex picked up wickets regularly enough to prevent significant partnerships.

Harris got Rashid to leave Yorkshire on 343-6 and, although former England bowlers Liam Plunkett and Ryan Sidebottom held things up for a while, Rayner cleaned up the tail to restrict Yorkshire to 390.

Rogers and Robson began the reply watchfully, only for the latter to nick a catch off Steven Patterson’s bowling, putting the visitors on top as bad light curtailed play.

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