County Championship: Somerset close day two 179 runs behind Middlesex

Lewis Goldsworthy had played three T20 matches for Somerset before his first-class debut in this game

Somerset's County Championship game against Middlesex remains in the balance after a rain-interrupted second day at Taunton.

Somerset closed on 178-4 in their first innings trailing Middlesex by 179 runs.

Middlesex moved from 308-6 to 357 all out with Robbie White falling for 92 and Josh Davey picking up three wickets in an over to finish the innings.

Somerset fell to 98-4 but a stand of 80 between George Bartlett and debutant Lewis Goldsworthy settled things.

Bartlett and 20-year-old Cornish batsman Goldsworth faced a tricky 15 overs when the players came back on at 18:00 BST following a third rain delay.

However, they scored freely as Bartlett closed on 43 and Goldsworth went to 34.

Earlier, Middlesex batsman White was cruelly denied a maiden first-class hundred when he was the first of three victims in six balls for paceman Davey.

Somerset's struggles at the top of the order this season continued when Tom Lammonby and Tom Banton both went cheaply to leave them 16-2.

Captain Tom Abell made 41, rebuilding in a stand of 70 with James Hildreth, who hit 39 to go past Bill Alley as Somerset's fourth highest run scorer in first-class cricket - but both were dismissed when well set.

Middlesex could make no further inroads in the final hour to leave this Group Two game intriguingly poised.

Somerset batsman James Hildreth:

"I'm not sure I have enough years in me to overtake Harold Gimblett and Marcus Trescothick, but I am only a few hundred runs behind Peter Wight so I can target third place behind two absolute club legends.

"To be forever linked with those two would do for me. I guess it shows I have been in the game a long time, making as many runs as possible for the club I love.

"We have a battle on in this game, but George Bartlett and Lewis Goldsworthy batted brilliantly against top bowlers and will want to continue their partnership. If they do, we have the batsmen to come capable of matching or getting past Middlesex."

Middlesex top scorer Robbie White:

"While I was disappointed to miss out on a maiden hundred, I was very happy to be out there making a significant contribution.

"The way we played as a team on the first day was pretty much to the blueprint we have laid down for the batting unit.

"On a pitch with a bit in it for the bowlers, we still feel we have a decent score to work with. We are happy with where we are in the game."