County Championship 2022 Division II | Middlesex hold firm grip over Leicestershire on Day 2

It was another strong performance from the Middlesex team on Day 2 against Leicestershire, wherein the latter is still trailing by 193 runs and is on the verge of their second defeat in this season. 

Middlesex began the day on 142/2, with Mark Stoneman as the overnight batter, and was joined by the captain Peter Handscomb. Both the players stitched a partnership of 44 runs, with Handscomb at his finest, while churning out boundaries in a consistent manner, before getting dismissed on 27 off 41 balls. 

Then arrived, Max Holden who could contribute 16 off 27 balls, and gave away his wicket in a failed dismissal of trying to charge towards the ball and accelerate the run-scoring off Callum Parkinson. 

Soon, Stoneman was also dismissed by Parkison for a stunning 108 off 165, comprising 16 fours. After this dismissal, Luke Hollman (45)  and John Simpson (71) were terrific with their composure to keep the team in good stead. 

Their stand of 112 runs, was ended by Ben Mike who cleaned up Hollman, with the team at 330/6. The late flourish from pacer Shaheen Afridi proved to be valuable for the team, as he contributed 29 off 27, with 3 fours and a six. The team was dismissed for 370, with a 221-run lead. 

Ben Mike finished with four wickets, with Parkinson and Chris Wright picking two wickets each. In response, visitors had a bad start in the third session, with Shaheen Afridi again weaving his magic with the new ball and picking wickets of Hasan Azad and Colin Ackermann in the fifth over of the innings. 

In the eighth over, Ethan Bamber breached the defence of Louis Kimber and was sent packing for 3 off 9. At the end of Day 2, Leicestershire are at 37/3, and are trailing by 184 runs. Samuel Evans is at the crease with 23* and Wiaan Mulder at 5*. 

It will certainly be a tough task for the middle-order of Leicestershire to oppose the strong space attack of the home team, as the action resumes on Day 3. 

Brief Scores on Day 2

Leicestershire - 37/3 in 11.4 overs (1st innings)

Samuel Evans 23*, Wiaan Mulder 5*
Shaheen Afridi 2/18

Middlesex - 370/10 in 110.2 overs (1st innings) 

Mark Stoneman 108, John Simpson 71

Ben Mike 4/15

Leicestershire - 149 all-out in 56.5 overs (1st innings)

Callum Parkinson 25, Beuran Hendricks 22; 

Shaheen Afridi 3/54, Tom Helm 3/23