Roland-Jones Leads Middlesex

Toby Roland-Jones spearheaded Middlesex’s successful quest for wickets on a rain-affected first day against Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors' School.

In his benefit year, the Middlesex captain, who is also the team’s leading red-ball wicket-taker this season, justified his decision to bowl first under overcast skies by taking 3 for 34.

Tom Helm supported his skipper with a fiery spell, claiming 2 for 41, as Northamptonshire stumbled to 167 for 7 in the 44.4 overs that were possible.

Emilio Gay was the mainstay of Northamptonshire's innings, scoring 42. Northamptonshire also handed a debut to seamer Dominic Leech, who recently joined on loan from Yorkshire and is set to start a three-year contract at Wantage Road next season.

Morning rain delayed the start of play until 1:25 pm, giving Middlesex's bowlers the opportunity to exploit the conditions after winning the toss.

Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw began confidently, taking advantage of some loose deliveries from Ethan Bamber and Roland-Jones, dispatching leg-side half-volleys and driving crisply through the covers. However, his aggressive approach led to his downfall when he attempted an ill-advised pull off Roland-Jones, resulting in a top-edge that was caught by Mark Stoneman at point.

Helm soon struck next, proving he had shaken off any rustiness from his recent stint as a drinks carrier for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. He tempted Ricardo Vasconcelos into a pull shot, which ballooned to Roland-Jones at wide mid-on.

Helm then produced a dream delivery, bringing one back from outside off-stump to bowl Northamptonshire captain Luke Proctor, sending the stump cartwheeling almost to wicketkeeper Jack Davies.

George Bartlett’s edge gave Sam Robson the first of his three slip catches, and while Rob Keogh briefly counter-attacked with consecutive boundaries, he also edged to Robson, this time off Henry Brookes.

Amidst the collapse, Gay stood firm. The opener, who is set to join Durham at the end of the season, demonstrated more control than his teammates, using his height to defend off the back foot and stepping forward confidently to drive through extra cover.

It took a brilliant delivery from Roland-Jones to dislodge Gay just before tea—a rising ball from around the fourth stump that Gay could only edge to slip, where Robson took another catch.

Roland-Jones continued his excellent day by dismissing Justin Broad for a duck shortly after tea, but Lewis McManus and Ben Sanderson managed to stem the flow of wickets before rain interrupted play once again.

The players returned 90 minutes later, and although only 14 more deliveries were bowled, McManus and Sanderson raised a valuable 50-partnership before bad light ended the day's play.