Wet weather thwarts Durham against Middlesex at Lord's

Two hours of rain set up a thrilling finish between Middlesex and Durham as the two sides played out a draw in their Divison One match at Lord's.

Resuming on 21-1, Middlesex were bowled out for 179 with Graham Onions completing a 10-wicket match haul.

A ninth-wicket stand of 82 between John Simpson (47) and Tim Murtagh (45) left Durham needing 130 off 45 overs.

The visitors were eight without loss before the rain came, but slipped to 75-6 before holding on to draw.

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Middlesex bowler Steve Finn told BBC London 94.9:

"It's obviously good to play against a team of Durham's quality and calibre. To play against the people they have in their side is as close to international cricket as you're going to get.

"I thought we played some good cricket and they did as well. I think the draw was fair in the end but we felt as though we had a sniff.

"It takes a little while to adjust, I hadn't bowled in a match since the last test in Sri Lanka two weeks ago.

"It takes a while to loosen up, I didn't intentionally bowl badly in the first part of their first innings but it happens and I feel as though I've blown the cobwebs off. In the second innings I feel as though I hit my straps and bowled relatively well."

Durham captain Phil Mustard told BBC London 94.9:

"I think we tried to give it a go but it has been pretty tough as a batsman, it was definitely a bowler's paradise down here.

"Once we got (Chris) Rogers out we thought we had a really good chance but there's always a partnership somewhere down the line.

"Looking around the first division, there are some world-class bowlers playing and that's what the County Championship is all about."