By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Lords
Middlesex made inroads into Gloucestershire’s batting line up by picking up five wickets on a day where bad light and gentle rain only allowed 41.4 overs of play to take place.
Gloucestershire finished day two on 154 for 5 whilst still trailing by 223 runs as Price brothers Oliver and Thomas remain at the crease batting on 56 and 12 respectively.
As for Middlesex, they used the slope at Lords to full effect as four out the five wickets came from the Pavilion end with Toby Roland Jones claiming three and Ryan Higgins taking two.
Having signed a contract extension on the morning of day one, 36 year old Roland Jones proved his worth as the standout bowler for Middlesex with his nagging line and length a constant threat to the Gloucestershire batters.
The biggest story of the day was actually the weather conditions as poor light stopped play on three different occasions before drizzling rain prevented any more cricket from happening.
Following a delayed start due to bad light, the Gloucestershire innings got underway with an early drop by keeper Jack Davies providing Ben Charlesworth with a second chance.
Fortunately the mistake from Davies wasn’t too costly as only an over later Higgins found Charlesworth’s edge with Sam Robson taking an excellent catch at slip to give Middlesex their first wicket of the morning.
Roland Jones was next to strike for the home side when he nipped one down the slope to knock over Bancroft’s off stump before play was halted for bad light leading to an early lunch being taken.
Post lunch, Roland Jones picked up where he had left off by claiming two wickets in one over with Miles Hammond caught at third slip before James Bracey edged behind to Davies for a second ball duck.
The next breakthrough once again came from the Pavilion end as Higgins pinned Graeme van Buuren LBW which brought brothers Oliver and Thomas Price together at the crease for Gloucestershire.
Despite passing fifty, Oliver Price was struck on the helmet before top edging past a deep fielder who struggled to sight the ball. This eventually led to the umpires stopping play due to bad light once again.
An early tea break was taken but the players never returned to the field as rain had descended upon Lords meaning stumps was called well before the scheduled time.
