Middlesex succumb to innings defeat against Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire completed a resounding victory by an innings and 59 runs at Lord's with Middlesex being all out for just 119 in their second innings.

Having been dismissed for 222 shortly after lunch on the fourth day, Middlesex were made to follow-on 178 runs behind.

It took Gloucestershire less than three and-a-half hours to wrap up the home side's second innings having claimed their first four wickets within twenty overs. Andy Strauss went in the third over and Owais Shah in the fifth, both scoring one.

Ian Harvey, who did not bowl in the first innings then claimed the next two wickets. He had Stephen Fleming caught at short leg with the total on 23 and two runs later, ten minutes before tea, Paul Weekes was held low at first slip without scoring.

Middlesex had a glimmer of hope of saving the match when Robin Weston and David Alleyne put on 80 for the fifth wicket. But with Weston being bowled by Mark Alleyne for 40, off 101 balls an hour into the final session, and David Alleyne also going on the total of 105, for an adventurous 44 from 58 balls which included five boundaries and a six, there was little resistance left.

Chad Keegan and Angus Fraser both fell on 109 followed by Ben Hutton, without scoring. He had earlier gone off injured while batting and came out again at the fall of the seventh wicket.

Finally, Harvey, who finished with 4-20 from 14.2 overs, completed the task for the west country side having Tim Bloomfield caught behind for two.

Earlier this morning, Middlesex, having resumed on 141 for four and needing a further 110 runs with six wickets standing, to avoid the follow-on, made it difficult for themselves losing four wickets in a space of an hour.

Mark Alleyne struck the first blow for Gloucestershire having Ben Hutton caught behind after the left-hander had added only six - in half-an-hour - to his overnight 29.

The first bowling change proved most effective with Alleyne replacing himself with James Averis who responded with two wickets off successive balls. He had Stephen Fleming caught behind off the last ball of his first over and then claimed Chad Keegan's wicket in the same manner, both falling on 169.

After a 30-run partnership for the eighth wicket, Middlesex lost two more wickets to the medium pace of Averis. Angus Fraser, 16, in attempting to flick to leg was snapped up at short mid-wicket and on the penultimate ball before lunch Tim Bloomfield fell as he skied his drive to extra cover.

Averis' excellent effort had given him 4-11 before lunch to which he added the last Middlesex wicket after the break.