Terry and Wheater Battle Hard but Middlesex Strike Late 

Battling half-centuries from Sean Terry (52) and Adam Wheater (50) were not enough to prevent Middlesex gaining the upper-hand on day three in the LV= County Championship match at Lords.

After Brad Wheal (4-101) claimed his career best-figures to help dismiss Middlesex for 330 quickly in the morning session, the loss of three early wickets left Hampshire struggling in their second-innings reply.

Positive knocks from Terry, Wheater and Will Smith (30) saw Hampshire fightback and gain a lead, before a late collapse saw Middlesex regain control with Hampshire finishing the day with a 41-run lead.

Opening bowlers Wheal and Jackson Bird (3-88) were quick to bring Middlesex’s first- innings to a swift close, and despite a well-made fifty from Ollie Rayner (52), the seam-duo took the final two wickets required, to dismiss the hosts inside the opening hour of play.

In reply, Jimmy Adams (28) will have hoped to have led his side to the interval without loss, but he was unfortunate to be caught down the leg-side off the bowling of seamer James Harris (3-60) to leave Hampshire 44-1 at lunch.

Further wickets fell at the hands of Harris to begin the afternoon session, and the visitors looked to be struggling at 48-3, before a valuable half-century from Terry saw Hampshire’s second-innings recovery back on track, whilst also ensuring the session concluded with just two wickets lost.

Terry was well supported by Smith and his patient innings helped provide stability following the former’s departure shortly after tea.

He was joined by Adam Wheater (50) and his arrival marked a change of pace with the wicket-keeper batsman looking to take the attack to the Middlesex bowlers with a strong display of aggressive stroke-making.

The pair successfully saw Hampshire surpass the host’s initial lead, however the loss of three wickets at the hands of Rayner (3-44) for the addition of just 14 runs, including that of both Wheater and Smith, meant the away-side’s advantage quickly drifted away.

Gareth Berg (18*) and Danny Briggs (5*) were the men unbeaten reaching 195-7 at the close, but despite building a lead, Hampshire will have been dissapointed not to be at more of an advantage at stumps, having earlier been 160-4.

However following impressive showings with the bat from both Berg and Briggs at times previously this season, their side will be hoping the lead can grow further on tomorrow’s final day.

Words: Will Brewster