Roland-Jones five-for as Middlesex skittle Kent

BBC News

02-05-2025

Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Lord's (day one)Kent 129: Muyeye 29; Roland-Jones 5-33Middlesex 158-4: Higgins 44*, Hollman 42; Garrett 2-39Middlesex 3 pts, Kent 1 ptMatch scorecard
Toby Roland-Jones's latest five-wicket haul gave Middlesex the edge on a bowler-dominated opening day against Kent at Lord's.The former England seamer took 5-33, the 33rd time in his career he has achieved a five-wicket haul, as the visitors were skittled for 129.Tawanda Muyeye top-scored with 29, but Zak Crawley's poor run of first-innings scores continued as he made only sixKent, though, hit back with the ball on an unusually sporty Lord's pitch, offering both seam and a hint of turn, with George Garrett taking 2-39 as the hosts reached 158-4 at stumps, Ryan Higgins on 44 not out.Crawley, named in the squad for the Test against Zimbabwe in less than three weeks, was undone by a beauty from South African Dane Paterson which angled in before leaving him off the pitch and pinning him in front.With his departure Roland-Jones took centre-stage. The Seaxes skipper, who would have played many more than his four Tests for England were it not for two stress fractures of the back, demonstrated again, that even at 37, his relentless accuracy can harass top quality players into error.Kent skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond appeared a little skittish before Roland-Jones produced a fullish ball which he nicked to wicketkeeper Jack Davies.That brought Muyeye in to join Ben Compton, a pair whose record third-wicket stand had won the reverse fixture between the sides three weeks ago.Any psychological scars were banished when Compton, having grafted for an hour, shouldered arms and was bowled by Higgins.Muyeye looked at ease, taking heavy toll of some loose deliveries from Henry Brookes, dispatching him to the short boundary three times in two overs.But Roland-Jones returned to dismiss him on the stroke of lunch, Higgins providing safe hands at gully.If that was a good catch, his left-handed grab to remove the dangerous Jack Leaning soon after the resumption was sensational and gave Roland-Jones his fourth victim. The five-for was celebrated shortly afterwards courtesy of Chris Benjamin's nick behind.Paterson provided good support, though Joey Evison looked unlucky to be adjudged lbw with question marks over both height and line.Brookes mopped up the tail leaving the self-effacing Roland-Jones to accept acclaim for his bowling feats as he reached the pavilion.With a bowling attack shorn of the likes of Nathan Gilchrist and Grant Stewart, Kent found a new-ball hero of their own in Garrett.In his first Championship game of the season, he accounted for both openers, Stephen Eskinazi bowled by one which pitched middle and clipped the off bail, while Robson, on his return from paternity leave appeared unlucky to be adjudged leg before.In-form Max Holden, with over 500 runs so far in the campaign including two centuries at Lord's, also fell cheaply courtesy of Leaning's super catch at slip.Luke Hollman, into the side at a career-high number four in place of the injured Leus du Plooy after scoring 160 in the second XI last week, counter-attacked for 42 before Matt Parkinson got one to turn and take the edge.Higgins and Ben Geddes then further steadied the home ship with an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 62 to leave Middlesex in front ahead of day two.
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