Half centuries from Samit Patel, Michael Lumb and Alex Hales helped Nottinghamshire post 345 for seven on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Patel was unbeaten at stumps, with 86 to his name, Lumb scored 78 and Hales showed he’s ready if England look to use him in next week’s Test match, by hitting a six and 10 fours in making 73.
Toby Roland-Jones took three for 57 for the home side.
For Lumb, it was pleasing to follow his 49 last week with another useful contribution.
“It’s nice to get a few,” he said. “I’d have liked to kick on, I felt in pretty good rhythm this game. I’ve felt good in most of the games, I just haven’t been able to get out of the blocks. I’m disappointed I couldn’t go all the way but I’ll take that.”
On the day as a whole, the left-hander added, “We’ll take that, it’s an interesting wicket, it’s quite tough to figure out the pitch – it looked hard but didn’t carry and played a bit slow.
“It’s a bit nibbly and a bit grubby, so I think we’ve got a good score on that pitch but we’ll see how it goes in the morning.”
Notts made one change to their starting line-up, with Brett Hutton coming in for the rested Jackson Bird. Having opted to bat first, they were soon rocked by the fall of an early wicket. A cover drive for four got Steven Mullaney off the mark but he was then beaten by one that nipped back from Tim Murtagh and was given out lbw.
Greg Smith sweetly timed a couple of boundaries through the on-side to get his innings up and running but fell for 29, when nicely set, nicking Roland-Jones to Ollie Rayner at second slip
Lumb looked in prime form from the off and caressed the ball repeatedly to the ropes, including back-to-back fours, off James Franklin, to end the morning session.
Hales reached his first 50 of the summer during the early part of the afternoon, getting there from 96 balls, with seven fours. His partnership with Lumb accelerated nicely, as Middlesex started to feel the pressure.
Both batsmen hit Rayner for maximums, Hales launching the ball down the ground before Lumb pulled the ball high into the hospitality area of the Tavern Stand.
Middlesex needed to arrest the situation and were able to stem the flow of runs when Roland-Jones picked up two wickets in the 44th over of the day.
The third wicket pair had put on 107 when the fast-medium bowler blasted one through Hales’ defences to rearrange his off pole. Five deliveries later and the home supporters were applauding again as Riki Wessels was given out lbw, without scoring.
Lumb reached his first 50 of the summer from 66 balls (7x4 1x6), then watched as Patel joined the list of six-hitters, by clubbing Rayner over wide long on.
The tall spin bowler proved his worth though, getting Lumb lbw just before tea. Chris Read had an early scare when a nick off Roland-Jones flew at catchable height between ‘keeper and slip.
The miss looked to be expensive as the 6th wicket stand extended to 71, with Patel pulling Rayner for another six.
As so often happens, the second new ball paid dividends to the bowling side, with Steven Finn striking twice. Read edged to gully for 38 and then Stuart Broad was taken at third slip for 7 – both catches being taken by Nick Compton.
Patel punctuated some astute accumulation with some high quality straight drives and found some late assistance from Brett Hutton, who helped put on 50 from just 73 balls.
By stumps Patel was within 15 of his hundred, with Hutton on 23 not out and Notts in sight of a fourth batting point.
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