Voges resists Warwickshire surge

On the opening day of the Ashes, it was Middlesex's Australian import Adam Voges who stood firm to deny Warwickshire a three-day win after the hosts were forced to follow-on in Uxbridge.

Voges, a 33-year-old right-hander from Perth, followed his sublime first innings 150 with a stoic, unbeaten 15 in 83 minutes as Middlesex limped to 147 for 5 in their second innings and still trail by 30 going into the final day.

Having conceded a first innings deficit of 177, Middlesex were batting again just after lunch on the third day after being dismissed for 309 - just 28 short of surviving the follow-on - and were soon on the slide once more.

Only 16 deliveries into their second innings left-hander Dawid Malan attempted to cut against Chris Woakes only to chop the ball onto his middle stump.

Then, just before tea, Sam Robson fenced a Boyd Rankin lifter to Rikki Clarke at second slip to bring together former Kent team-mates Neil Dexter and Joe Denly.

After a sticky start the pair added 68 inside 15 overs before Dexter (36) aimed to drive at Barker and only feathered it through to the keeper.

Voges, batting again before 5pm and with his side still 72 runs in arrears, then watched as Denly edged onto middle stump, while John Simpson fenced at a Rankin lifter to be caught behind just before stumps .

Resuming on their overnight first innings score of 177 for 4 and requiring a further 160 to avoid the follow-on, Middlesex made a steady start through Voges and John Simpson.

They posted a record fifth-wicket partnership for Middlesex against Warwickshire eclipsing the county's previous best of 175 set by Paul Weekes and Jamie Dalrymple set at Edgbaston in 2004.

Then, with their stand worth 180, Simpson, shuffling forward to Jeetan Patel's skidding arm-ball, went leg before for 63 to make it 208 for 5.

In the next over, Voges moved to a 151-ball hundred with 13 fours with a single against left-arm seamer Keith Barker.

He became only the seventh Middlesex batsman since to score a first-class hundred on debut since Edward Lyttelton took a hundred off the Australians at Lord's in 1878.

Voges was the first to achieve the feat for the county since his fellow countryman Phil Hughes achieved the feat against Glamorgan at Lord's in 2009.

However, it was Warwickshire who were soon celebrating when Gareth Berg followed the next ball from Barker outside off and edged through to keeper Tim Ambrose to go without scoring. Barker was soon in the action again, taking a sharp low catch at short square leg to send back Ollie Rayner off the bowling of Patel. Tthen in the next over, Barker had Toby Roland-Jones (nought) caught at first slip off an airy drive.

With Chris Wright out of the Warwickshire attack with a back strain, Voges reached his 150 after lunch from 215 balls but, having helped add 72 in tandem with Ravi Patel, he danced down the pitch to clip a return catch to Jeetan Patel off a full-toss.

The hosts posted a third batting bonus point before their last man Corey Collymore drove a catch to mid-off, leaving Ravi Patel unbeaten on a career-best 26 as Warwickshire enforced the follow-on.