Book tickets to the various music and other events hosted at Utilita Bowl
Visit Hampshire Cricket and Utilita Bowl's online store to get your hands on official replica and supporter kit as well as a range of other merchandise.
An efficient bowling display including three wickets from Brad Wheal wasn't enough to prevent Middlesex building a substantial lead on day two
A battling effort from Hampshire’s bowlers was unable to prevent Middlesex from building a 122-run lead to end day two in the LV= County Championship fixture at Lords.
Early wickets for Brad Wheal (3-83), Gareth Berg (2-47) and Jackson Bird (2-77) had initially handed Hampshire the momentum after an impressive opening display from the Hampshire attack.
However, half-centuries from former England Test opener Nick Compton (87) and John Simpson (64), including a century partnership between the two, helped lead the recovery as the hosts concluded the second day on 298-8.
Resuming on 59-0 at the start of play, Middlesex stuttered early as Berg and Bird both struck in the opening five overs of the morning session.
Paceman Wheal also picked up his first wickets of the innings shortly after, claiming two wickets in three balls, including the important scalp of England Limited Overs skipper Eoin Morgan (0), to help reduce the hosts to 100-4.
Berg topped off an excellent morning session for the visitors, with James Franklin (5) edging behind to mark the fifth wicket to fall before lunch and put Hampshire firmly back in contention.
However the home-side fought-back well, with a composed Compton and Simpson sharing a 111-run partnership to ease the home-sides troubles to advance the total further in the afternoon session.
Upon reaching his half-century, Compton continued to build and looked to be nearing his second successive hundred against Hampshire this season, before Danny Briggs found his outside edge to see the right-hander depart 13 runs short of the milestone.
Despite the breakthrough, Simpson continued with some patient stroke-play and useful support from Ollie Rayner (34*) helped Middlesex further their lead, before the former was dismissed by a nipping delivery from Bird with just over an hour remaining in the day.
The impressive Wheal grabbed his third wicket of the innings in the closing overs, but Middlesex’s lead of more than 100 appears to be a substantial advantage at the end of the second day’s play.
