Weather foils Middlesex's victory charge against Notts

Middlesex's hopes of completing a three-day victory over Notts were dashed when bad light, then rain, prevented any play after 3.10pm. By then the home side, having been made to follow on, were 93--3 in their second innings, still 120 away from making the visitors bat again.

Put back in to bat the home side had reached lunch on 15--0 from the four overs possible. Immediately after the resumption they lost Guy Welton, caught behind off the bowling of Tim Bloomfield.

Bloomfield, on from the Pavilion End, followed up his first innings figures of 3--75 by quickly adding both Greg Blewett and Kevin Pietersen to his tally to leave Notts reeling at 49--3. Skipper Darren Bicknell and debutant Bilal Shafayat then frustrated the Middlesex attack with an unbroken stand of 44 in 12 overs.

Sixteen-year-old Shafayat confirmed the promise he had shown in the first innings with a composed unbeaten 21, based on a sound defence end careful accumulation.

Bicknell, savage on anything pitched too close to his legs, had compiled 48 when bad light forced the players from the field. Shortly afterwards a heavy thunderstorm saturated the outfield.

Notts' first innings had ended shortly before lunch on 314, a deficit of 213. The morning had begun badly with David Lucas dismissed from the very first ball of the day.

Shafayat extended his overnight score to 72 before falling lbw to Phil Tufnell and then a last-wicket stand of 46 between AJ Harris and Greg Smith earned the home side a third batting point.