Nick Compton insisted that his England career is not over after his 23rd first-class century combined with some lusty late hitting from Toby Roland-Jones frustrated Hampshire and all but guaranteed that hands will be shaken on a draw declared on Wednesday. When Hampshire reduced the visitors to 152 for five and even 287 for nine, the idea of the home side being only 55 ahead with a stalemate so likely at the close seemed far-fetched.
But thanks to Compton’s 117, Middlesex found their way to 362 and with three overs to go before the close. Middlesex bounded on to the field to bowl them, their tails truly up for the first time in the match. After 11 of the 18 balls and with four Liam Dawson runs scored, they were off for rain and the day was up.
Since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012, five men have tried and failed to hold down a place as Alastair Cook’s England opening partner, and three of them – Sam Robson and Michael Carberry are the others – are playing in this match, while Adam Lyth will become the sixth on Thursday. Compton, given the first crack, is widely regarded as the unluckiest to be jettisoned.
“The fire [to play for England] burns as brightly as ever,” Compton said. “I want to prove to England, the selectors and everyone out there that I’m still a force to be reckoned with. At the top of the order we need guys who can fight and bat through tough sessions and I’m one of those guys who can put his hand up.
“Looking at the conditions and the state of play this morning we had a lot of work to do. We didn’t bowl particularly well and we gave Hampshire a good score on a toughish wicket, so I’d go as far as to say it was one of the better hundreds I’ve scored.”
Middlesex required Compton’s contribution to keep hopes of defending their unbeaten record alive. James Franklin and Neil Dexter were dismissed in a steady morning session as Hampshire bowled impressively. After lunch, however, Compton – who drove and pulled as strongly as ever – blunted the tiring attack, sharing 59 with John Simpson and 58 with Ollie Rayner and letting out a roar upon reaching his century.
Shortly after steering Middlesex past a follow-on target that had looked a long way off when Dexter fell, he was adjudged lbw to Dawson, although it appeared to be sliding down the leg side. James Harris and Rayner fell shortly afterwards, before Roland-Jones – who scored 61 from 60 –and Finn shared 75 for the final wicket, every blow seeing Hampshire’s chances of a first win of the season grow slimmer.
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