Cricket: Middlesex held up

RAIN PREVENTED Middlesex building up a powerful position against Hampshire at Southampton where only one session of play was possible. In the 32 overs that were bowled Hampshire were all out for 311 after resuming at 291 for 9 and in their second innings Middlesex were 105 for 2 with Mike Gatting unbeaten on 33.

Hampshire's first innings lasted only a further four overs in which 20 precious runs were added to reduce the Middlesex first innings lead to 126 as last man Peter Hartley struck two boundaries in an over from spinner Phil Tufnell but, in attempting a third, gave Paul Weekes a catch at mid- off.

Richard Johnson was the most successful of the Middlesex bowlers, taking 4 for 75, while Tufnell, who has been overlooked for England's winter tour to Australia, had to be content with figures of 2 for 79.

Middlesex were soon in trouble when they began their second innings with David Goodchild having his off-stump knocked out of the ground by Hartley with only 19 on the board.

Richard Kettleborough and Andrew Strauss, who made 83 in the first innings on his county debut, took the score to 41 before Strauss touched Alex Morris to wicket-keeper Adrian Aymes after making only 12.

Zahid Saeed and Kashif Raza led a spirited fightback by Pakistan against England in the third and final under-19 Test at Chelmsford. The two pace bowlers each claimed four wickets as England were bowled out for 162 in their second innings to leave the tourists a victory target of 227. At the close they were 31 without loss.

A devastating spell by Zahid immediately after lunch enabled Pakistan to gain firm control. In the space of seven deliveries, the left-arm seamer removed Owais Shah, Stephen Peters and Paul Franks. It paved the way for the hostile Kashif to return and bring the innings to a swift conclusion and finish with figures of 4 for 26 from 14.4 overs. Zahid returned 4 for 73.