91Èȱ¬

Middlesex completed a comfortable nine-wicket win over Division One strugglers Hampshire on the final day at Lord's.

In stifling conditions, the visitors resumed on 195-7 with a lead of just 41 and lost their remaining wickets in the first hour to be bowled out for 227.

Set a target of 74, Sam Robson hit 36 not out to see Middlesex to 77-1.

Hampshire have now only won once in nine County Championship games, while third-placed Middlesex closed the gap to four points behind Durham.

The visitors went into the fourth day knowing they would need to bat until after lunch to give themselves any chance of salvaging a draw.

Gareth Berg and Danny Briggs saw out the first half hour and took them to 214-7 to boost their hopes, but Toby-Roland Jones then had Briggs caught by Ollie Rayner for 19.

All-rounder Berg (25) only lasted another eight balls before Tim Murtagh removed him lbw and James Harris ended the innings by dismissing Brad Wheal in the same way.

Welshman Harris, who took his season's tally to 49 Championship wickets, finished with 4-80 and match figures of 8-128 as Middlesex picked up their fourth win of the season.

Middlesex captain James Franklin:

"We have had a few good performances this season, and that was obviously one of them.

"We had a pretty tough drawn game at Uxbridge in our last Championship match, and so we had to win this game to stay up with the leaders of the division.

"The bowlers were excellent in this match, led by James Harris. I knew him as a teenager when I played at Glamorgan, and he has always had a lot of talent.

"I've no doubt that he can go on and play for England. He just needs to keep taking the numbers of wickets he has been taking this season - with another eight in this game - and then that sort of thing tends to look after itself."

Hampshire skipper Jimmy Adams:

"We are struggling a bit at the moment and unfortunately we left ourselves with far too much to do on this final day."