Ollie Robinson demolishes Middlesex top order before rain curtails day three

Sussex paceman Ollie Robinson left Middlesex facing the prospect of their heaviest County Championship defeat of the modern era after a rain-affected third day at Lord’s

The right-arm seamer tore out the heart out of the home side’s top order with figures of 4-23, which included a burst of 3-8 in 14 balls.

When the weather closed in to provide temporary respite for the beleaguered Seaxes they were 61-4 still needing 282 to make Sussex bat again.

Perhaps more pertinently, Stuart Law’s side require a further 51 to better their loss by an innings and 232 runs to Sussex at Lord’s in 2005 – their worst defeat against a county side since before the outbreak of World War II.

Robinson, in his first match since injuring his shoulder against Durham back in April, had taken three wickets on the first day as the Lord’s tenants were hustled out for 138.

And in more seamer-friendly conditions he was close to unplayable second time around.

The 25-year-old and his new-ball partner Mir Hamza set Middlesex openers Max Holden and Sam Robson a searching examination in the morning gloom.

Both bowlers beat the bat a number of times and it was no surprise when Holden edged a ball leaving him a touch on the off-stump line to Luke Wells at fourth slip.

Holden will have been left doubly frustrated by the fact just four balls later, rain and bad light intervened for the first time, driving the players off for an early lunch.

The shortened first session meant Robinson had plenty of energy in reserve to take up where he left off upon the resumption and he did so to devastating effect.

Moving the ball both ways off the seam, he castled Robson (23) with one which trapped the former England man on the crease and bowled him through the gate.

Home skipper Dawid Malan was then undone by one which went the other way, feathering the thinnest of edges to Chris Jordan at first slip.

And still worse was to come for Stuart Law’s side when Stevie Eskinazi poked tentatively at another ball on a nagging off-stump line to give Luke Wells his second catch of the day.

🔥 Ollie Robinson has been sensational

🎳 12-6-23-4

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dear @englandcricket, please let us keep him for a while longer #gosbts pic.twitter.com/Orq2SRJOjd

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 4, 2019

Nick Gubbins and James Harris staved off any further disasters before the rain came again to prevent any further play.

When play was called off for the day, Robinson spoke to reporters and said: "Conditions definitely don’t get much better for bowling and I had my tail up as well as I was hoping for a win today. It is great to play here, especially when conditions suit you as a bowler, it’s awesome.

"Both Stiaan (Van Zyl) and Browny (Ben Brown) said last night there was a bit in the pitch and Browny went on the counter-attack in our innings for that reason. He said he felt he was threatened when he played normally, so he came out aggressively.

"I think it showed today when they batted, if you just sort of defend and don’t look to score it is quite a hard pitch to bat on. All of their batters got out sort of prodding and not really going anywhere.

"After the way we bowled this morning we probably could have won the game today if there was no rain. So that is a bit frustrating, but hopefully we will come back tomorrow and get the win."