Hampshire take control thanks to Abbas hat-trick
Mohammad Abbas took a hat-trick, while recording remarkable figures of six for 11, as Hampshire ended the second day in a commanding position against Middlesex.
Pakistani seamer Abbas, who was signed for his wicket-to-wicket seam bowling that is ideally suited to English conditions, removed Max Holden, Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi in consecutive balls, spanning the end of his first over and the start of his second.
Abbas’s hat-trick delivery came at the start of Middlesex’s fourth over. The ball seamed away fractionally from Eskinazi to snare his outside edge, which was gratefully seized by wicketkeeper Lewis Mcmanus.
In his following over, he dismissed Robbie White and Martin Andersson, both lbw for ducks. When Sam Robson edged to third slip for 18, Abbas could dream of taking all 10 wickets. Instead, Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal finished off the innings, bowling Middlesex out for 79, a first-innings deficit of 240.
In Hampshire’s second innings, Ian Holland and Sam Northeast helped build what already appears an impregnable position as they finished the day on 204 for two, a lead of 444.
Ollie Pope returned to form at the Oval to help Surrey’s response to Leicestershire’s 375. Pope’s 92 not out brimmed with sumptuous straight drives as Surrey reached 253 for three at the close.
Durham edged closer to victory over champions Essex. After Stuart Poynter’s 52 not out lifted Durham’s first innings to 259 – a lead of 163 – Dan Lawrence hit 76 for Essex, but with Durham captain Scott Borthwick following his century with two wickets, Essex closed on a precarious 208 for six, a lead of only 45.
At Trent Bridge, Stuart Broad marked his first-class return by taking three for 50 to help Nottinghamshire secure a 72-run first innings lead against Warwickshire.