Centurion Fletcha’s a chip off the old block
Fletcha Middleton celebrated his maiden Vitality County Championship century but Hampshire and Warwickshire look likely to draw at Utilita Bowl.
Homegrown Middleton, impressive in last season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, amassed 116, having put on 213 runs for the second wicket with fellow centurion Nick Gubbins.
An afternoon collapse saw Hampshire lose five middleorder wickets for 45, which put Warwickshire on course for a 90-run first-innings lead.
Rob Yates – who now has 296 runs and 11 wickets this season – and opening partner Alex Davies reached 46 without loss by close – a lead of 136.
Middleton’s father Tony had scored his maiden first-class century, against Kent, in this week 34 years ago – he would end that season with 1,238 runs for Hampshire.
There were plenty of similarities. Kevan James and Simon Hinks were in attendance on both occasions; now commentator and match referee. But most notable was the steeliness about the innings.
Tony’s would see him score 127 runs in 314 balls across just over six hours. Fletcha kept up the family tradition of crease occupation over quick scoring; his eventual 116 came in 329 balls in four minutes shy of seven hours.
Only 10 runs were scored in the first half an hour, with 80 runs spread out before lunch. Middleton and Gubbins are hardly Bazball enthusiasts at the best of times but an idle pitch didn’t help.
Gubbins followed up his two half-centuries against Lancashire with a 216-ball century – his 17th of his firstclass career and his seventh since arriving at Hampshire two and a half years ago.