da bet7k： Middlesex captain takes 33rd five-for of career as Crawley’s struggles continue for Kent
da bet nacional： ESPNcricinfo staff02-May-2025Toby Roland-Jones’s latest five-wicket haul gave Middlesex the edge on a bowler-dominated opening day against Kent at Lord’s.The evergreen former England seamer took 5 for 33, the 33rd time in his career he’d achieved a five-wicket haul as the visitors were skuttled 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 ball in hand on an unusually sporty Lord’s pitch, offering both seam and a hint of turn, George Garrett taking 2 for 39 as the hosts reached 158 for 4 at stumps with Ryan Higgins 44 not out.Crawley, named this morning in the squad for the Test against Zimbabwe in less than three weeks, was undone by a beauty from South-African quick Dane Paterson which angled in before leaving him off the pitch, beating his outside edge 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 when at the peak of his powers, demonstrated again, 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.Roland-Jones though would return 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 reluctantly accept acclaim for his bowling feats as he reached the pavilion.With so few to defend and a bowling attack shorn of the likes of Nathan Gilchrist and the man who has often proved Middlesex’s nemesis Grant Stewart, they found a new-ball hero of their own in Garrett.In his first Championship game of the season, Garrett accounted for both openers, Stephen Eskinazi castled by one which pitched middle and clipped the off bail, while Robson, on his return from Paternity leave was unlucky to be adjudged leg before to one seemingly missing leg.The 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 No.4 in place of the injured Leus du Plooy off the back of scoring 160 in the 2s last week, counter-attacked, some powerful drives taking him to 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.Before play began, the MCC gave Middlesex employee Lorraine Poole the honour or ringing the five-minute bell to mark the last day of her 25 years of service to the club.
