Godleman leads the way

Billy Godleman contributed 106 to Middlesex's 313 for seven on the second day

Billy Godleman scored his first century of the season as Middlesex ended the second day of their LV County Championship Division Two match with Gloucestershire with a first-innings lead of 95.

The 19-year-old made 106 in Middlesex’s close-of-play total of 313 for seven, 22 overs having been lost at Lord’s following heavy rain.

Godleman was eventually dismissed 10 balls after reaching three figures when he was caught behind chasing a wide delivery from Jon Lewis, who ended the day with figures of 5-64.

Middlesex resumed on 106 for one when play eventually got under way just after midday, with Ed Joyce quickly into his stride courtesy of two leg-side boundaries.

Steve Kirby struck just before lunch, removing Joyce for 30 courtesy of an edge to Hamish Marshall at slip.

Left-hander Eoin Morgan did not last long, managing just 12 before he too was tempted into driving at Lewis and edging to wicketkeeper Steve Snell.

Godleman completed his fifty soon after and, together with Dawid Malan, pushed the score past Gloucestershire’s first-innings score of 218.

They shared a fourth-wicket stand of 110 before Malan fell for 50, trapped lbw by Lewis trying to force a swinging ball through the leg side. His half-century spanned 109 balls and contained eight fours.

Godleman steered the ball to fine-leg to reach three figures in the 83rd over of the innings, but Ben Scott soon departed for six, lbw to Lewis to give the seamer his first five-wicket haul of the season.

Shaun Udal - appointed skipper for the remainder of the season - smashed the first six of the day over square-leg during a 44-run stand with Murali Kartik for the seventh wicket.

Though Kartik departed for 17 to a smart catch by Snell, Udal reached the close unbeaten on 32.