Murtagh stars for Middlesex

Tim Murtagh

Tim Murtagh claimed 4-36 as Middlesex made Gloucestershire follow-on in a low-key LV County Championship Division Two contest at Bristol.

Ben Scott took his overnight score of 76 to 112 - his second championship century - to help the visitors post 440 all out in their first innings.

Steve Kirby and Carl Greenidge returned identical figures of 4-99 but then Murtagh and Danny Evans (3-31) got to work on a feeble home batting line-up.

The hosts were bowled out for 152, a deficit of 288, as Grant Hodnett top scored with 35.

Gloucestershire made a better fist of it second time around and Hodnett was unbeaten on 43 as they closed on 94 for three, with nightwatchman Steve Kirby among the dismissals.

Middlesex began the day on 394 for seven and Scott had added only four to his first day score when dropped by Tom Stayt at fine-leg off Kirby, whose yell of frustration could be heard all around the ground.

The wicket-keeper went on to reach a solid hundred off 141 balls, with 12 fours. It was his first championship century since the final match of the 2004 season against Northamptonshire at Lord’s.

Kirby claimed two of the last three wickets, reward for a wholehearted effort without much luck.

Scott was last man out, having faced 152 balls and extended his boundary count to 14.

Ben Scott hit his first championship hundred for Middlesex © Getty Images

When Gloucestershire replied, Craig Spearman took three cover-driven fours in succession off the second over, bowled by Murtagh, but his side were soon in trouble.

Kadeer Ali was bowled by Richardson on the back-foot and Spearman edged Murtagh and was caught in the slips.

By the 13th over it was 37 for three as Hamish Marshall was squared up by the impressive Evans and lost his off stump.

Championship debutant Steve Finn had Hodnett caught behind after lunch while Evans had home captain Alex Gidman picked up at second slip by Andrew Strauss for 27 and soon followed up by pinning another championship newcomer, Jackson Thompson, lbw for 11.

In between those wickets Murali Kartik clean bowled Steve Adshead and at the fall of Thompson Gloucestershire were 116 for seven.

Greenidge took a fearful blow on the grill trying to hook an Evans bouncer but did better than most in contributing 19 to the meagre total before Murtagh wrapped up the tail, taking the last three wickets.

It was Murtagh again who struck at the start of Gloucestershire’s second innings when Kadeer played a careless shot to be caught at square-leg.

Hodnett and Spearman did their best to restore some pride with a second-wicket stand of 78 but when Spearman was bowled by Kartik for 46 his side were still more than 200 behind.

Kirby fell to the last ball of the day but Hodnett was still there at the close to give them a glimmer of hope.