Sandhu signs new Middlesex deal

Middlesex's promising seam bowler Gurjit Sandhu has signed a new two-year contract with the club.

The 21-year-old came through the Lord's academy and has made eight first-team appearances in all competitions since his debut in 2011.

"Gurjit continues to make good progress and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him," Middlesex managing director of cricket Angus Fraser said.

"Being a left arm bowler he offers something different to our attack."

Fraser added: "He would have played far more white ball cricket for the first XI in 2013 had he not sustained a nasty hamstring injury at the start of the season.

"Under the guidance of Richard Johnson [Middlesex assistant and bowling coach] I am sure further progress will be made in the near future."

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Alec Stewart attacks Surrey's critics after 146-run derby defeat by Middlesex

Alec Stewart, Surrey’s acting director of cricket, hit back at criticisms of the club’s selection policy after a derby defeat by Middlesex which plunged them deeper into relegation danger.

Surrey collapsed for a second day in a row, with Middlesex spinner Ollie Rayner taking 15 wickets in the match, putting Stewart’s team under more pressure ahead of their game at fellow relegation contenders Somerset next week.

Questions have been asked about the elderly nature of Surrey’s side and a perceived failure to nurture younger players.

“Do you just pick people because they are young?” Stewart asked. “If they are not playing well enough, do you pick them? You go in with a weaker side?

“It’s all opinions. But the opinions that count are in there [the dressing room].

"You’re entitled to write your thoughts on how you see things. And we’ll do what we believe is right. That’s how it’s always been.”

The former England wicketkeeper also took exception to the club being described as big-spending.

He said: “This club is a big club. Everyone works under the same salary cap.

"When it’s said ‘Surrey are big spenders’, we can’t spend any more money on players than the other 17 counties.

"It’s a very well-run club and they should be credited for that; the way we sell out the Twenty20s and everything else.”

Stewart also praised the groundsman for the pitch, even though Rayner took advantage after Surrey lost the toss.

Spin was again the major weapon on Thursday. First, Surrey’s Gareth Batty picked up three wickets before Middlesex declared with a lead of 384.

Surrey initially battled well in their second innings with Hashim Amla and Steven Davies compiling an 86-run stand that took the score to 188 for four.

Once that partnership was broken though, Surrey capitulated.

The match looked to be heading into a fourth day – with rain forecast – when Surrey were 207 for five, but they imploded to 212 for nine, ensuring Middlesex secured a convincing victory.

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Surrey's Gary Keedy takes key wickets against Middlesex after answering SOS call in style

Surrey arrived for this local derby in the relegation zone and with their recruitment policy having been questioned all year, but Gary Keedy – who symbolises that transfer strategy – played an important role for them. He took three wickets late in the day on a dry surface that looks tailor-made for spin bowling.

Left-arm spinner Keedy, one of the veterans recruited over the winter, was initially supposed to be playing for the second XI in Coventry. The 38-year-old had to travel down to the Oval when Zafar Ansari sustained a thumb injury in pre-match nets.

Alec Stewart, Surrey’s interim director of cricket, said: “It’s not ideal when you lose a player just as the toss is about to be made, but Gary is a very good and experienced replacement and he has bowled very nicely so far. We dragged it back very well and got it back to respectability.”

Middlesex’s batsmen had shown some fight as they recovered from 24 for two. Dawid Malan scored a fluent 61, Chris Rogers made a level-headed 55, then Neil Dexter patiently reached 77 not out. The visiting side were on 204 for four, but Keedy ran through the lower middle order.

Malan had not scored a fifty in championship cricket all season but, on his 26th birthday, he hit back at criticisms of Middlesex’s recently brittle batting. “You have freak games where everything goes against you,” he said.

“One or two of us haven’t scored as many as we’d like, but there hasn’t been a massive problem. It gets blown out of proportion.”

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Ollie Rayner urges fans to stick with Middlesex after collapse against Somerset

Middlesex’s Ollie Rayner urged the club’s followers not to give up on the side after a dreadful day, which appears to have ended their title challenge.

Middlesex suffered a painful defeat against Derbyshire in the previous match, leaving them damagingly adrift of leaders Yorkshire, and impressive Somerset made them endure a nightmare here.

Somerset’s Piyush Chawla hit a century as the relegation-threatened visiting team launched an extraordinary recovery from 211 for seven to finish on 449. Middlesex looked like a demoralised side, and they responded torridly with the bat, slumping to 55 for seven at one stage before being bowled out for 106. Following on, they lost two early wickets.

Spin bowler Rayner, who carried on his much-improved form with the bat by scoring a gritty 34 not out, urged supporters to see the bigger picture. “Keep with us, stay with us,” Rayner said. “There have been much darker times for Middlesex. Over the last few years, I’d like to think we’ve given them something they can be proud of.

“We’ve had one bad day and we haven’t had many. No one tries to do it. It happens sometimes, that’s how sport works. We’ve had one real stinking session, which we’ve done to other sides throughout the year. The boys are absolutely gutted. We can’t do that ever again.”

At the start of the day, there was already a sense that Middlesex were going to fall short in their title challenge after a frustrating first day. Chawla carried on where he left off, resuming on 58 not out, and reached his century by hitting Ravi Patel into the Mound Stand for six. Alfonso Thomas supported him well, finishing on 54 not out.

Jamie Overton, recently called up to the England one-day squad, made an early impact by removing Australia opener Chris Rogers for just eight with a ball that angled across him, which he drove to third slip. “I didn’t really expect to get in the Lions team so I’m surprised at getting in the England squad,” the 19-year-old said. “I’m very excited. After the Ashes, it’s a good time.”

Lewis Gregory took two wickets and Craig Meschede picked up three as Middlesex’s batsmen imploded. Rayner showed fight, but Chawla took the final three wickets in quick succession to wrap up the first innings and finish with three for eight from 4.5 overs.

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Middlesex end Sussex unbeaten run

County Championship Division One, Hove

Day four: Middlesex 496 & 44-0 beat Sussex 229 & 310 by 10 wickets

Middlesex ended Sussex's unbeaten record in Championship Division One by wrapping up an emphatic 10-wicket win on the final morning at Hove.

Luke Wright was last to go for a superb 161 as the home side were all out for 310 after resuming on 288-6.

Corey Collymore (3-52) and Tim Murtagh (3-57) shared the final four wickets as Middlesex were left only 43 to win.

Sam Robson (18) and Dawid Malan (19) finished the job in nine overs as Middlesex cruised home on 44-0.

The result left Sussex second in the Division One table, seven points behind Yorkshire and having played a game more, with Middlesex leapfrogging Warwickshire into fourth, 24 points adrift of the leaders.

At the start of play, Sussex needed Wright, already 151 not out, to extend his innings well beyond the opening session, but his hopes of doing so suffered an immediate blow when Chris Jordan was caught behind off the first ball of the day, bowled by Murtagh.

Steve Magoffin and James Anyon departed in similar fashion as wicketkeeper John Simpson completed five catches in the innings and with only Monty Panesar left for company, Wright eventually hoisted a catch to Neil Dexter off Collymore, bringing to an end his stint, which featured a six and 24 fours.

Completing victory proved a formality for the Middlesex openers, who collected five fours between them, before Malan picked up the winning single off the final ball of Michael Yardy's second over.

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Middlesex end Sussex unbeaten run

County Championship Division One, Hove

Day four: Middlesex 496 & 44-0 beat Sussex 229 & 310 by 10 wickets

Middlesex ended Sussex's unbeaten record in Championship Division One by wrapping up an emphatic 10-wicket win on the final morning at Hove.

Luke Wright was last to go for a superb 161 as the home side were all out for 310 after resuming on 288-6.

Corey Collymore (3-52) and Tim Murtagh (3-57) shared the final four wickets as Middlesex were left only 43 to win.

Sam Robson (18) and Dawid Malan (19) finished the job in nine overs as Middlesex cruised home on 44-0.

The result left Sussex second in the Division One table, seven points behind Yorkshire and having played a game more, with Middlesex leapfrogging Warwickshire into fourth, 24 points adrift of the leaders.

At the start of play, Sussex needed Wright, already 151 not out, to extend his innings well beyond the opening session, but his hopes of doing so suffered an immediate blow when Chris Jordan was caught behind off the first ball of the day, bowled by Murtagh.

Steve Magoffin and James Anyon departed in similar fashion as wicketkeeper John Simpson completed five catches in the innings and with only Monty Panesar left for company, Wright eventually hoisted a catch to Neil Dexter off Collymore, bringing to an end his stint, which featured a six and 24 fours.

Completing victory proved a formality for the Middlesex openers, who collected five fours between them, before Malan picked up the winning single off the final ball of Michael Yardy's second over.

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