LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Lord's:
Gloucestershire 268 & 223 beat Middlesex 203 & 185 by 103 runs
Gloucestershire 21pts, Middlesex 4pts
Match scorecard

Steve Kirby finished with match figures of 7-86

Gloucestershire took just 25 minutes of the final morning to wrap up a 103-run win over Middlesex at Lord's.

Resuming on 166-7 chasing 298 to win, Middlesex had added just three to their score when Tim Murtagh chipped Gemaal Hussain (5-46) to mid-off.

Steve Kirby (3-36) then struck to remove Iain O'Brien and Danny Evans to bowl the hosts out for 184.

Four defeats make this Middlesex's worst ever start to a season, while Gloucestershire notch their first win.

After being saved from defeat inside three days by bad light on Thursday, the home side's slim chances of victory rested with their eighth-wicket pair of Murtagh and Shaun Udal.

606: DEBATE In cricket, especially four-day cricket, partnerships are key. Middlesex never seem to have any bazzathegooner

But Murtagh was to fall in the third over of the day, giving a tame catch to substitute fielder Anthony Ireland.

Kirby had O'Brien caught low at slip by Stephen Snell in the following over then wrapped up the match when Evans looped a gentle catch to Ireland at short leg.

Middlesex, who replace Gloucestershire at the foot of the Division Two table, now must go searching for their first win at league leaders Sussex in their next Championship match.

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