Bowler’s career-best figures set up victory bid at Edgbaston

Middlesex bowler Tom Helm was delighted to claim career-best figures to help set up a chance of victory against Warwickshire.

Helm took 5-59 at Edgbaston as the home side were dismissed for 233 on the third day of their Specsavers County Championship clash.

And the defending champions were 36-2 in pursuit of 234 in the final innigns of the match, with Helm saying: “It’s pretty special to get my first five-for. I probably got bit of luck at times but I guess they all count.

“It’s a tough side to get into, especially with ‘Tobes’ (Toby Roland-Jones) and ‘Finny’ (Steve Finn) not around so it was nice to play and I was really happy with the way it went.

“We have got a number of seamers in the queue to play so there is always pressure on you to justify your place and thankfully I got a bit of luck and got some wickets.

“I have struggled a bit with my rhythm over the last few weeks so it was good that it came out nicely today. Hopefully I can carry it on next week.

“It’s been a pretty good game. It was pretty even after the first innings and I think if you had offered us to chase 230 in the fourth innings we would have probably bitten your arm off for it.

“But they bowled well and picked up a couple of poles so it will be an interesting day.”

Dawid Malan and Nick Compton were the not out batsmen overnight for Middlesex, following the early fall of Sam Robson and first-innings centurion Steve Eskinazi.

And Warwickshire captain Jonathan Trott, who hit 99 in his side’s second innings, is looking forward to the final-day challenge.

He said: “It will be interesting. There is still a bit of movement there so if we can bowl well and set the right field and take our catches we’ll have a chance.

“The pitch is cracking a little bit and it will stay pretty warm under the covers so hopefully will deteriorate a little bit more. There’s a little bit of weather around so who knows.

“We were in a good position at tea-time, but then scored only 60 runs for five wickets.

“It was disappointing for me to get out for 99, but if you’d offered me that at the start I’d have taken it. I felt okay out there and have felt in good nick all season.

“But my score is irrelevant, to be honest, we have just got to go out there tomorrow and take the initiative and get our first championship win of the season.”