Liam Dawson makes his Ashes case with all-round onslaught

Middlesex 142 for 8 (Dawson 6 for 38) path Hampshire 419 (Dawson 141, Gubbins 120, de Caires 7-144) by 277 runs

Spinning all-rounder Dawson was missed by England for the beforehand retired Moeen Ali when Jack Leach suffered a decrease again stress fracture for the primary Test towards Australia, earlier than teenager Rehan Ahmed jumped forward of him for the upcoming second Test.

But having been decisive in his 141 with the bat, he tore by means of Middlesex along with his left-arm spin to say six for 38 – and depart Middlesex 142 for eight at shut.

Dawson had shrugged off being slighted by England the earlier night, saying: “It doesn’t really affect me. I’ve not expected to play Test cricket for a long time. To me if it happens then brilliant, if not then it doesn’t bother me.”

The clamour behind Dawson has been backed by a robust begin to the season with each aspects of his recreation and a deep degree of expertise.

His 16 wickets is probably the most for any Championship spinner who’s English-qualified and match – solely Leach and South African Simon Harmer have extra – whereas his 384 runs is within the prime 30 within the prime tier. Add to that 13 Vitality Blast wickets and his finisher runs coming at a 176 strike fee.

He was launched within the twelfth over, after Mohammad Abbas had already nicked off Mark Stoneman, and instantly began with a double wicket maiden.

Pieter Malan was hit on the again pad earlier than Max Holden stumbled in entrance of a turner.

Sam Robson tried to hold round with 38 off 81 however dangled behind to go away Middlesex in a troubling 66 for 4.

After a interval of normal lbw shouts and tightness from each ends, Dawson’s bowling took one other facet; he added exaggerated bounce to his flip.

Ryan Higgins was the primary to be shocked when he edged behind, two balls later John Simpson fended to quick leg after which Luke Hollman stepped again to be pinned in entrance of his stumped. For Dawson it was three wickets in six balls.

It additionally handed him his second sixth wicket haul in successive house matches, and left the guests 88 for seven.

De Caires and Toby Roland-Jones scored 48 swiftly earlier than the latter swung Felix Organ to Dawson at midwicket. De Caires ended a personally profitable day unbeaten on 24, however his facet in peril of being requested to observe on.

Dawson had begun his day with bat in hand persevering with his mammoth fifth wicket stand with Nick Gubbins, with all eyes on the previous Middlesex man’s quest to succeed in three figures.

It finally got here with a steer down the third after 14 extra dots so as to add to his 277-ball vigil – by far the slowest of his 15 first-class centuries.

He finally fell for a 318-ball 120 when de Caires had him caught at backward level on the reverse sweep, with Dawson caught at slip taking part in the identical shot quickly after.

There had been scores of 40 for James Fuller and Felix Organ as Hampshire slowly pushed over 400 however apart from Hollman having Fuller stumped, it was de Caires’ second.

De Caires has been seen primarily as a batter rising up however the 21-year-old took the lead along with his off-spin – with every wicket celebrated with real glee.

His 47.3 overs throughout the innings was greater than the 46 overs mixed he had beforehand managed throughout his embryonic first-class profession, for a single wicket. Keith Barker was lbw to at least one which stayed low, Kyle Abbott was caught swinging to first slip and Organ holed out to deep midwicket.

His seven-for higher his father, former England captain, Michael Atherton’s leg-spinning better of six for 78 – and was the seventh-best away Championship bowling figures on the Ageas Bowl.