Holden ton gives Middlesex control v Glamorgan

BBC News

19-04-2025

Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Lord's (day two)Glamorgan: 199 (69.5 overs): Ul Hassan 65, Kellaway 54*; Roland-Jones 3-44 Middlesex: 353-4 (117 overs): Holden 107, Du Plooy 85*, Fernandes 58, Geddes 51*; van der Gugten 3-55Middlesex (5 pts) lead Glamorgan (1 pt) by 154 runs with six first-innings wickets standing Match scorecard
Max Holden's 107 helped Middlesex into a big lead as they reached 353-4 against Glamorgan, already 154 ahead.Nathan Fernandes made a solid 58 before Holden and Leus du Plooy added 135 as they accelerated in the afternoon. Du Plooy (85 not out) and Ben Geddes batted quietly through the evening session to stretch the home advantage.Timm van der Gugten, with three for 55 in 28 overs, was an outstanding spearhead in the Glamorgan attack.But Middlesex were well in control for most of day two.
Resuming at 63-0, Middlesex lost Steve Eskinazi for 39, driving Van der Gugten to a diving Ben Kellaway at point as the Dutch international bowled four consecutive maidens and Ned Leonard also started tightly.The attritional cricket continued as Max Holden dug in alongside Nathan Fernandes, who reached a solid and patient 50 off 102 balls before falling on the stroke of lunch edging Van der Gugten to slip for 58.Only 55 runs came in the first session with the tempo changing afterwards as Holden got after England spinner Shoaib Bashir, swatting him leg-side for six and four before a lucky edge between keeper and slip.Remarkably Bashir, in his third and final loan match, has only now matched his 15 Tests, taking 49 wickets, with 15 first-class appearances outside Tests. Holden dominated the century stand with Du Plooy in the afternoon session, adding to his 184 against Lancashire at HQ, as Middlesex powered ahead with just two wickets down. But Holden's intelligent innings, including 16 fours and a six off 198 balls, came to an end when Zain Ul Hassan took a fine low catch on the cover boundary to add to his economical bowling performance.Ryan Higgins quickly followed him, caught behind down leg-side off the deserving Leonard.But Middlesex's fifth wicket partnership of Du Plooy and Geddes concentrated on consolidating their team's advantage rather than racking up bonus points, settling for just two from their batting effort at 330-4 after 110 overs.Geddes reached his half-century just before the close, but Middlesex will need to bat into the third day even though poor weather is possible on Monday.