Smith sets the pace

Ed Smith © Getty Images

An Ed Smith century and a championship-best 76 from Eoin Morgan put Middlesex in a strong position after they had won the toss in the LV County Championship Division Two match against Gloucestershire.

The visitors closed the first day on 394 for seven, Smith and Morgan having shared a fourth-wicket stand of 174 in 41 overs at Bristol.

Smith’s contribution - 111 off 178 balls, with 17 fours - helped Middlesex recover from 81 from three.

Later in the day Ben Scott hit an unbeaten 76 to move his side to within six runs of maximum batting points.

It was a tough day in increasingly hot conditions for the Gloucestershire bowlers, Carl Greenidge claiming 3-79 and left-arm spinner Vikram Banerjee getting through 28 overs for figures of 1-90.

Greenidge made the first breakthrough for the home side in the sixth over when he pinned Billy Godleman leg before with a full-length delivery.

Andrew Strauss appeared to be getting into his stride when moving to 32, with seven fours.

So it was a surprise when he played all around a straight ball from Steve Kirby to have his stumps scattered.

That was 59 for two and Gloucestershire had good cause to be pleased with their morning’s work when Ed Joyce square-cut Greenidge and was picked up low down by Kadeer Ali at point.

Smith enjoyed a reprieve on 87 when advancing down the pitch to Banerjee, only for wicketkeeper Steve Adshead to miss the opportunity of a leg-side stumping.

That was all the good fortune Smith needed to move to his second century in successive championship matches. He brought it up with a straight four off Kirby, having faced 156 balls.

Morgan provided excellent support, reaching his half-century off 107 balls, with nine fours. It was a patient knock and just what his team had needed when he walked to the wicket.

But, having moved past his previous best of 72, made in the previous game against Nottinghamshire, the 20-year-old Irishman suffered a lapse in concentration.

He tried to pull out of a cut shot off Alex Gidman and lobbed the simplest of catches to Tom Stayt at backward point.

Smith followed 10 runs later, mistiming a drive off Banerjee to be caught by Kirby, moving backwards at mid-on.

In the final session Scott moved positively to a half-century, off 75 balls with five fours, finding a reliable partner in Tim Murtagh as they added 99.

Gloucestershire took the new ball at 346 for five for the 92nd over and Kirby’s whole-hearted effort was rewarded when he dismissed Murtagh (32) lbw with the score on 364.

Greenidge also claimed another victim when Murali Kartik edged a defensive shot to Adshead, but Scott remained solid until the close.