Edwards Takes Five Wickets As Hampshire Finish With Draw

Fidel Edwards claimed his first five-wicket haul for Hampshire in two years as their County Championship clash with Middlesex at Uxbridge ended in a draw.

Edwards ripped through the tail as the hosts were dismissed for 204 in their first innings, with Kyle Abbott (3-25) claiming the other wicket of the day.

In reply, Joe Weatherley (35) impressed with the bat for Hampshire, but his side were bowled out for just 146 before Gareth Berg (1-9) restricted Middlesex to 14-1 in their second innings when the rain fell.

Abbott continued his form from last night, by claiming the first wicket in the fourth over of the day, with Ollie Rayner (9) chipping up to Mason Crane, who took a low, diving catch at square leg.

Edwards then picked up his fourth wicket of the innings, trapping tail-ender Tom Helm (1) in front of all three stumps as Middlesex fell from 168-7 to 169-9 in a difficult morning.

John Simpson (36) upped the intent in a six-over burst alongside Steven Finn to get his side their first batting point as they moved beyond 200.

Edwards then clean bowled the wicket-keeper batsman to claim his first five-wicket haul since September 2015 as Middlesex were dismissed for 204.

Weatherley got his side off to a fast start in reply, crunching three boundaries in Steven Finn’s opening over as the visitors raced to 15-0 after two overs.

His opener partner Jimmy Adams (2) fell in the very next over, edging behind off Tom Helm (3-43) as Hampshire lost their first wicket.

Despite this, youngster Weatherley (35) continued to play positively, with his side progressing onto 41-1 after just seven overs, but fell shortly after with Helm claiming his second scalp of the innings.

Helm and Harris had been applying the pressure, but Rayner came and enjoyed instant success, with Tom Alsop (9) feathering behind to Simpson meaning lunch was called with Hampshire on 46-3.

The wickets continued to fall after the interval, with Ervine giving Simpson his third catch of the game as Hampshire lost three wickets without adding to their total.

Ian Holland (23) played with intent alongside debutant Felix Organ, hitting three boundaries off Rayner (1-26), but his decision to hit him out of the attack proved costly, and he was then bowled his replacement Harris.

Calvin Dickinson (1) then came and went in a brief innings as Hampshire continued to lose wickets, with Organ being bowled by Harris (2-27) as three wickets fell in as many overs with the visitors collapsing from 89-4 to 96-7 and in danger of trailing Middlesex’s first innings total.

However, as they have done for most of the season, both Gareth Berg and Abbott guided their side out of trouble before their 31-run stand was ended in the most unfortunate circumstances.

Berg drove Harris straight back down the track, but the Middlesex bowler got his fingertips onto it and Abbott was out of his ground and had to depart.

Berg (22) was then bowled shortly after as two wickets fell in just seven deliveries with the visitors falling to 132-9, with Middlesex acquiring maximum bowling points.

Edwards (3) was the last man to all, with Finn (3-41) bowling a fierce yorker as Hampshire were dismissed for 146 in their first innings, still trailing by 58 runs.

Middlesex began their second innings in cautious circumstances, with Berg picking up the wicket of Sam Robson (0) with Adams holding onto yet another catch in the slip cordon.

However, over nine overs were possible before light drizzle forced the players off, with Nick Compton (11*) and Steve Eskinazi (3*) guiding the hosts to 14-1.

The rain continued to fall and both sets of players shook hands and the game ended in a draw.