Langer saves Middlesex from wooden spoon

Middlesex captain Justin Langer played one of his finest innings for his county yesterday to prevent his side finishing with the humiliation of last place, on the final day of the championship match against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff yesterday.

Having come to the crease on Friday at 40 for 4, Langer batted for seven and a half hours to score 213 not out, enabling Middlesex to reach a first innings score of 387 and earn sufficient competition points to surpass Sussex in eighth place on the Division Two ladder.

Mark Ramprakash (51), David Nash (41) and Richard Johnson (41) provided valuable support to Langer, as did Phil Tufnell, who batted 57 minutes without scoring before hitting a return catch to Robert Croft to end the innings. With Tufnell's help, Langer was able to reach his double hundred and add 56 runs for the last wicket, giving Middlesex their fourth batting point along the way.

Glamorgan openers Steve James and Ian Thomas had nineteen overs of batting practice to end their first-class season, the ten points for the draw being enough to secure promotion for 2001. This was Justin Langer's last championship appearance for Middlesex before 2002, the Western Australian left-hander being almost a certainty for selection for the Ashes tour next year.