Middlesex happy to bat out draw

County Championship D1, Lord's: Middlesex 437 & 348-6 dec drew with Surrey 460
Points: Middlesex 12, Surrey 12

Match scorecard

Ed Smith hit 88, his highest score for Middlesex as Surrey were thwarted on the final day at Lord's.

After Smith's 100-run third wicket stand with Ed Joyce (60) took Middlesex ahead by 150, there already appeared little chance of a result.

And Middlesex were in no mood to contrive one against their arch-rivals, batting out the rest of the day.

Scott Styris hit a brisk 55 and Ben Scott was 61 not out when a draw was agreed, both sides taking 12 points.

If we keep putting ourselves in those positions, the wins will come Mark Ramprakash

Middlesex captain Ben Hutton insisted he was in no position to declare and try to force a result.

"With the pressure on in the morning the game was in the balance. We had to bat well and to get to lunch with two down was a good effort," he said.

"We felt on this pitch we weren't in a position to bowl them out.

"Alan Richardson has bowled well all season but he has worked hard and Irfan Pathan has a shoulder injury - he could be struggling to play next week."

Surrey's stand-in skipper Mark Ramprakash bemoaned the bad light on day three for preventing them building a winning total.

"It was a difficult call whether to declare behind and forfeit a lead.

"We thought we could get in front and have a session at them but bad light hit and we didn't have the gas to make inroads," he said.

"If we keep putting ourselves in those positions, the wins will come."

Ramprakash, who retired hurt in the first innings with a hairline fracture in his thumb, expects to be out of action for three weeks.

Graham Thorpe will lead the side in the Championship next week but Surrey have yet to decide on a Twenty20 captain.