County Championship: Ryan Higgins hits maiden 200 as Middlesex and Glamorgan draw

Harare-born Ryan Higgins is a former Gloucestershire player

Ryan Higgins hit his maiden double century as records tumbled in the draw between Middlesex and Glamorgan.

Middlesex's 655 was their best score at Lord's, the highest Championship score on the ground, and their best against Glamorgan.

The match will be remembered for Sam Northeast's mammoth ground-record 335 not out.

Higgins' 221 saw Middlesex lead on first innings, Glamorgan making 31-2 in their second knock.

Glamorgan, who scored more quickly, claimed 13 points to Middlesex's 11.

The hosts required 11 more runs to avoid the follow-on at the start of the day, with five wickets in hand.

• County Championship: day four as it happened

It took them 31 balls to achieve that when Higgins took a single off Colin Ingram's occasional leg-spin, only for Josh de Caires to chip a return catch next ball for Ingram's first wicket since July 2022.

But the pitch continued to favour the batters and the Kookaburra ball, being used in four rounds of Championship cricket, offered little movement to bowlers.

The departure of Toby Roland-Jones (20) and Henry Brookes (nine) to Jamie McIlroy and Craig Miles meant three wickets fell in a session for the first time in the game, but Tom Helm dug in to assist Higgins' bid for 200 and then opened up to reach a career-best 64.

Higgins moved quietly towards his milestone and finally reached his double ton with a pulled four off Ingram, passing his previous best of 199.

He finished with 21 fours and two sixes, facing 517 balls in an assured marathon knock before being stumped off Carlson.

In the final session, Glamorgan lost Zain Ul Hassan for two to Ethan Bamber and Billy Root edged Leus Du Plooy to slip on 11, but appropriately Northeast was at the wicket when the draw was agreed.

Middlesex travel to Northampton in round two of the Championship on Friday, 12 April while Glamorgan host Derbyshire, led by the Welsh county's former captain David Lloyd.

Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones said:

"Circumstances dictated where the game meandered to in the end, but in amongst that, there were personal elements and team things where we wanted to eke out as much as possible and the guys did that really well, so lots of positives.

"Last year Ryan found himself in too many backs against the wall situations, so it was really nice for him to go in with the foundation laid and to put his stamp on it.

"We found with the blend of the Kookaburra ball with that surface, it wasn't a great match for exciting cricket, but I guess in different conditions the ball has a place, it's something they're trying out and time will tell."

Glamorgan coach Grant Bradburn told BBC Sport Wales:

"It's been an excellent four days for us, to get four days under our belt at the home of cricket is so valuable in the context of the season, after we were underdone coming into the game.

"Sam's taking in all in, it's a special feeling in the dressing room and a privilege to witness a history-making innings, he batted superbly.

"I couldn't be prouder of the efforts in the field, the energy was superb to keep Middlesex to three runs an over.

"There was a lot of talk about the Kookaburra ball and the flat pitch, but we had opportunities. Using the Kookaburra ball in the Championship is going to help bowlers to become better."