Middlesex / Glamorgan - to close to call

Mark Ramprakash (82) batting at his best and the Middlesex bowlers kept the county in contention against Glamorgan at Southgate. For the second time in consecutive matches Ramprakash showed in brilliant manner his preference for batting second-wicket down.

The rain-worn pitch troubled batsmen throughout. Right from the start Middlesex drooped to 25-3 but were rescued by Ramprakash at his most flamboyant - his three sixes included the stroke by which he brought up his half-century. Yet even his brilliance could not hide Middlesex' poor performance in making only 164. Injudicious running and strokes contributed to the batting malaise. Sadly the l.b.w decision which dismissed Ramprakash, the last wicket to fall, was not without controversy. Darren Thomas was the most successful bowler with 4-55.

Richard Johnson and Angus Fraser hit back immediately that Glamorgan batted. The visitors flagged to 30-4 with Johnson's three wickets costing him only 11 runs. Neither side could really get on top: Glamorgan ended on 144-7, with Adrian Dale on 42 n.o. to go with his 3-50, just twenty runs behind.