The table-toppers Middlesex will be up against Durham in the 23rd match of County Championship Division Two 2022 at the iconic Lord's in London from May 19.
Middlesex have been the side to beat this year, winning three of their five games, while their two games ended in draws. However, their batting lineup got exposed against the quality bowling lineup against Nottinghamshire in their most recent encounter at Lord's.
Chasing a huge target of 516 runs, Middlesex were reduced to 69 for three at the end of Day 3, but constant rain on the final day saved them from facing their first defeat in the ongoing season. Shaheen Afridi's unavailability and Tom Helm's injury have further affected the balance of the team.
Durham, on the other hand, have finally eked out a win in the season as they bowled out Glamorgan for 137 on Day 4 to beat the Welsh county in their most recent fixture. With one defeat and 4 drawn matches, they are currently placed fifth in the points table with 79 points to their credit.
Durham's batting lineup has seen a massive boost after the inclusion of Ben Stokes. The 30-year old, who was recently appointed as the captain of the England Test team, is expected to feature in his final county game before shifting his focus to international commitments.
Match Details
Match: Middlesex vs Durham
Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Date & Time: May 19-22; 11:00 AM (UK), 3:30 PM IST
Live Streaming: Official YouTube channel of Middlesex
Pitch Report: With the cloudy conditions on offer, the pacers should enjoy bowling at Lord's. The first few hours will be crucial for both the departments as the red cherry will swing and offer challenges to the batters. It isn't easy to bat in the fourth innings, and hence whoever wins the toss should bat first.
Key Performers
Durham: Sean Robert Dickson is the second-highest run-scorer in County Championship Division 2 and leading run-scorer for Durham with 750 runs in 11 innings, averaging 68.18 and at a strike rate of 64.71.
Alexander Zak Lees is the second-highest run-getter for Durham, accumulating 490 runs in just 7 innings at an average of 98 and strike rate of 48.
Matthew Potts has been terrific with the ball, bagging 35 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 18.57 and an economy rate of 2.77. The Durham fast bowler is also the leading wicket-taker of the County Championship Division 2.
Middlesex: Sam Robson is the leading run-scorer for Middlesex, amassing 318 in 7 innings at an average of 63.60 and strike rate of 62.35.
Max Holden is the second-highest run-getter for Middlesex, with 311 runs in 8 innings while averaging 51.83 and having a strike rate of 58.56.
Roland Jones has been a regular wicket-taker for Middlesex, scalping 20 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 20.60 and an economy of 2.75.
Squads
Middlesex: Martin Andersson, Ethan Bamber, Joe Cracknell, Blake Cullen, Jack Davies, Joshua de Caires, Stephen Eskinazi, Toby Greatwood, Peter Handscomb, Max Harris, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Ishaan Kaushal, Tim Murtagh, Sam Robson, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson, Mark Stoneman, Nathan Sowter, Thilan Walallawita, Robbie White, Daniel O'Driscoll
Durham: Graham Clark, Michael Jones, Tom Mackintosh, Scott Borthwick, Alex Lees, Jonathan Bushnell, Jack Campbell, Chris Rushworth, Paul Coughlin, Luke Doneathy, Harry Crawshaw, Matt Salisbury, Mark Wood, Matthew Potts, Ben Stokes, Ben Raine, David Bedingham, Sean Dickson, Ned Eckersley, Oliver Gibson, George Drissell, Liam Trevaskis, Brydon Carse, Keegan Petersen, Stuart Poynter