Lewis laps it up (From Gazette Series)

Lewis laps it up

ENGLAND hopeful Jon Lewis was Gloucestershire's hero on Sunday, taking two wickets as his side's match against Middlesex was abandoned due to heavy rain.

Lewis's haul included the prize capture of Middlesex captain and new England team-mate Andrew Strauss, who was caught by wicketkeeper Steve Adshead for just eight to continue his poor start to the season.

Lewis had been selected for the England Test squad last week after some outstanding early season form, which had seen him claim 18 wickets.

Sunday's Totesport League clash at the County Ground represented his last chance to impress before the start of the first Test against Bangladesh, which began yesterday, and the pace ace did not take long to stamp his authority over the Middlesex innings.

Firstly, he induced an edge behind from opener Ed Smith which flew into the arms of Adshead. This followed fellow opener Paul Weekes's drive off James Averis into the grasp of Alex Gidman as Middlesex struggled at 16-2.

But the prize wicket of Strauss, whose performance in England's winter tour of South Africa was one of the most prolific of any international player in recent times, was soon to follow.

The batting star had just struck a four with a flick over fine-leg off Lewis when the big seamer struck, forcing Strauss to edge a full-pitched ball into the hands of the diving Adshead.

However, after such a fine start, Gloucestershire slowly crumbled as former Lord's captain Owais Shah produced an unexpected virtuoso performance at the crease to make a quickfire 50.

But the heavens opened soon after, with play eventually delayed for three hours. When the match was able to resume, there was only time for 21 overs per side, leaving Middlesex with another seven balls still to face. The hosts managed to restrict their visitors to 95-5 which, after Duckworth-Lewis calculations, meant that Gloucestershire's initial target was 130.

Adshead and Phil Weston opened the innings and were swiftly replaced by Matt Windows and Chris Taylor before another shower reduced the target to 87 from 13 overs.

At 40-2, a third shower destroyed the game's chances of survival and, with no further play possible, each side received two points.

But the main talking point remained the form of Lewis, who must now look a dead certainty for England honours.