MIDDLESEX S batting let them down again as their grim start to the County Championship season continued with defeat by Glamorgan at Lord s, writes Ben Kosky. The home side failed to reach 200 for the third time this season when they were skittled for 160

MIDDLESEX'S batting let them down again as their grim start to the County Championship season continued with defeat by Glamorgan at Lord's, writes Ben Kosky.

The home side failed to reach 200 for the third time this season when they were skittled for 160 on Friday to leave them trailing by 155 runs on the first innings.

Although Middlesex performed better with the bat second time around, with Dawid Malan hitting their first ton of the campaign, the damage had been done and Glamorgan celebrated victory - their first at Lord's in more than half a century - by 78 runs.

A century stand between Jim Allenby (57) and Mark Wallace (79) underpinned the visitors' first innings total of 315 after former Middlesex all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple had opted to bat first.

Allenby (4-29) and David Harrison (5-62) then starred with the ball as the home side lost wickets at a steady rate, with Andrew Strauss (44) and John Simpson (32) the only batsmen to pass 20.

Middlesex fought back as Gareth Berg, who had taken three wickets in the Welshmen's first innings, picked up another four to reduce them to 153-8.

But a ninth-wicket stand of 54 between Dean Cosker (49 not out) and Harrison (24) took Glamorgan almost out of reach as they posted 219 to set a stiff target of 375.

Middlesex lost both Scott Newman and Sam Robson for ducks before a partnership of 143 between Strauss (69) and Malan (115) gave them fresh hope going into the final day.

But that hope was extinguished when Malan was sixth out at 236, caught behind off Dalrymple.

Despite resistance from Berg (28) and Shaun Udal (23), Middlesex were dismissed for 296.