Middlesex 153 & 233 Gloucestershire 342 & 45-1 MIDDLESEX remain slumped near the foot of the County Championship table after a crushing defeat against Gloucestershire at Bristol last week, writes Simon Jackson. The nine-wicket setback means Shaun

Middlesex 153 & 233

Gloucestershire 342 & 45-1

MIDDLESEX remain slumped near the foot of the County Championship table after a crushing defeat against Gloucestershire at Bristol last week, writes Simon Jackson.

The nine-wicket setback means Shaun Udal's outfit are still without a win after five division two matches this season.

Middlesex welcomed back England skipper Andrew Strauss and he opened with Nick Compton (7) who was quickly dismissed with the score on 21.

Strauss (32) was then joined by Owais Shah (25) but Strauss's dismissal left the visitors at 49-2.

Eoin Morgan (6) was then skittled out for 69-3 and Shah's departure left Udal's men on 72-4.

Neil Dexter (6) failed to withstand Gloucester's attack. The onslaught continued and Dexter's dismissal left them 80-5 at lunch.

David Nash's (10) dismissal soon after left Udal's men 99-6. Gareth Berg (29) raised hopes and was joined by Udal (8). But the skipper did not last long, being dismissed for 123-7, and Berg was then caught for 125-7.

Steve Finn (24 not out) stopped the rot but the rapid dismissals of Chris Silverwood (1) and David Burton (1) saw the visitors dismissed for a meagre 153.

In reply, Gloucester made a steady start and went on to score 342. David Burton was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers, taking 5-68). Udal took 2-26.

Middlesex were soon in trouble in the second innings when Strauss was skittled for a duck. Compton (17), top-scorer Shah (57) and Morgan (10) briefly raised hopes but Shah's dismissal left Middlesex 111-4. The departures of Finn (1), Dexter (43), Berg (8) and Nash (38) saw Middlesex slump to 180-8. Although Udal (27) and Silverwood (26) added 52 runs to avoid the follow on, Gloucester had little trouble in reaching their modest target in just 9.5 overs.