Clouds finally part for Middlesex with better times to come

It has been a bleak few years but, as Vithushan Ehantharajah writes, there is reason for cautious optimism returning to Lord’s

A general view of play during Middlesex vs Somerset at Lord’s (Getty Images)

It was as we entered into day two's evening session of this opening County Championship match between Middlesex and Somerset that the sun shone brightest.

The clouds that had accompanied it throughout the day had not yet returned from the tea break by the time Middlesex started their second innings. They began the day bats in hand with their first innings carrying over into Friday, setting them down for 49 overs to bowl Somerset out for 172 before picking them back up again to boost a lead of 141. By the end, that had swelled to 228 by stumps.

Saturday’s forecast in north London is particularly bad. And just as many weekend picnic plans have been scuppered, so too might Middlesex’s push for victory. They will expect to be chasing the win into the second-half of Sunday, and will no doubt be in a rush to ensure their fine work over the first half of this match does not become obsolete.