Langer and Hutton keep Middlesex promotion hopes alive

Justin Langer and Ben Hutton put Middlesex back in the running for a National League Second Division promotion place with competition-best perfomances at Edgbaston.

Skipper Langer's patient 93 laid the foundations for a commanding 201 for nine and Hutton's four for 32 undermined Warwickshire as they floundered under the Edgbaston floodlights.

Hutton needed to take the wickets to get back in favour with Langer after he was involved in the run out that cost his captain a certain century.

Langer had taken no risks and appeared in no trouble in a sensible 122-ball innings until Hutton changed his mind about a quick single in the penultimate over and Langer was unable to beat Dominic Ostler;s throw from midwicket.

Langer gave Hutton a backward glance as he trudged back to the pavilion but the youngster, the grandson of Sir Leonard, was quickly forgiven as he applied the brakes to Warwickshire's innings.

Hutton, bowling gentle seamers, concentrated on line and length and struck in his first over when he had Ashley Giels stumped.

The wickets of Dominic Ostler and Trevor Penney, both LBW, and Michael Powell, who was bowled through the gate followed, as Warwckshire slipped to 186 all out and their fourth straight home defeat in the competition.

Langer said when he won the toss and opted to bat first that he did not fancy the chances of the side batting last under the temporary floodlights and so it proved.

His innings ensured that Middlesex had just enough runs to force victory but his stands of 68 for the third wicket with Mark Ramprakash and 73 for the fourth with Irishman Ed Joyce enabled Middlesex to survive a late clatter of wickets of their own.