Date-stamped : 25 May97 - 06:15 Gatting shows the way By Mike Beddow at Edgbaston Second day of four: Middlesex 161-7 v Warwickshire MICHAEL ATHERTON, or Mark Taylor, will have an opportunity to alter an Edgbaston trend in the first Ashes Test in 13 days` time. In three first-class matches here this season, captains have elected to bowl first. Whether influenced by the weather, whim or the ground`s recent reputation, they have met with mixed results, and in this case Warwickshire are deep into Middlesex`s batting, despite losing 46 overs because of rain. The pitch is a damp, early-summer seamer, the bowling of Dougie Brown and Allan Donald became incisive, and only those who grafted, notably Mike Gatting, batted for any length of time. Warwickshire had to wait 10 overs - at a cost of three effortless boundaries from Jacques Kallis - before breaking the opening partnership. Once Paul Weekes had succumbed to Brown`s movement off the seam Mark Ramprakash quickly followed, well taken at short leg by Wasim Khan. Kallis, having become more and more entrenched, played back for a third wicket in eight overs for Brown, who finds himself at the top of his county`s batting and bowling averages after being omitted from the first championship match. Gatting is well used to the role of troubleshooter but, in his first season as an England selector, there was a new experience in needing to blank out an interest in the progress of Atherton`s victorious side at Headingley. This he did for 2.25 hours, briefly pugnacious with three fours in succession, and ultimately his 38 represented the highest score of the day, other than Warwickshire`s 40 extras. Both Gatting and Jason Pooley were more in defensive mode when defeated by Donald and, with Middlesex 97 for five, Graeme Welch pressed home Warwickshire`s advantage with two wickets. Only Scott Moffatt had the application to prop up a fast- disintegrating side. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Welch denies Moffat half-century By Mike Beddow at Edgbaston Third day of four: Middlesex (221 & 21-1) lead Warwicks (158) by 84 runs THIS match appeared to be drifting into a dead end until Warwickshire lapsed into a familiar routine. In three championship matches, they are yet to secure a batting bonus point. Their first-innings frailty has brought totals of 151 (against Glamorgan), 140 (Yorkshire) and now 158. On average, each wicket has yielded barely 15 runs with a lifespan of less than five overs. Even set against this yardstick, the events of yesterday were curious. In mid-afternoon Warwickshire were 66 for one and daring to contemplate a move past Middlesex`s modest score. They were forced to think again. In 21 overs, seven wickets fell for 54 - three of these in 13 balls from James Hewitt - through a combination of rash shots, good seam bowling and two slip catches by Paul Weekes. In the context, it became a worthy achievement by Mo Sheikh to restore prudent methods with a capable 24. This is his championship debut: he bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace, and took his first wicket when Phil Tufnell was caught. The chance was held at cover by Gregg Pepler, a substitute fielder who was required when Allan Donald, like Middlesex opener Jacques Kallis, reported unwell after dining out in Birmingham on Thursday evening. Apparently, this was a replica of the stomach disorder which affected half the Yorkshire team here two years ago. Kallis was unable to take part all day, but Donald bowled again when Middlesex reached 21 for one. Their position of strength - still to be endorsed by the timing of a declaration by Mike Gatting today - was ultimately due in a large part to two of their younger members. Scott Moffat`s contribution in his second championship match was to score 47 of the 124 runs added by the last five wickets. Born in South Africa and previously with Hertfordshire, he batted almost faultlessly until denied a half-century by Graeme Welch`s away movement. Hewitt, 21, assisted Moffat in a stand of 64 and then supplemented the efforts of Angus Fraser and Richard Johnson in bringing Warwickshire to their knees. Only David Hemp made more than 30, with eight boundaries. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Sheikh rattles Gatting and Co By Mike Beddow at Edgbaston Warwickshire (158 & 198-2) beat Middx (221 & 132) by 8 wickets MUCH to the satisfaction of England`s hyperactive reformist, David Lloyd, the old guard is beginning to change in county cricket. The average age of these sides is a fraction under 28. The only over-35s are the portly captains. Mike Gatting will be 40 next month and Andy Moles, at 36, is in his benefit year. Neither looks as if he would pass up the local takeaway for an evening at Weightwatchers. They are representatives of an era before fitness trainers and pasta, though Gatting, in his new role as an England selector, is by definition a party to the new thinking. If this is to produce fitter, leaner and younger cricketers Warwickshire and Middlesex are moving in the right direction. Four players in this match, two from each side, have a total of only 16 championship appearances. Warwickshire`s unexpected opportunity to chase as little as 196 in 57 overs for victory was due in part to Mo Sheikh, 23, an all-rounder signed last year from West Bromwich Dartmouth. A left-handed batsman and right-arm seam bowler, he is regarded as an opener by his Birmingham league club, but on his championship debut, he batted at No 9 and performed well in both roles. By bowling Jacques Kallis and Scott Moffat yesterday, he hastened Middlesex`s dismissal for 132. Warwickshire`s other newcomer this season is Tony Frost, a wicketkeeper from Bob Taylor territory in Staffordshire. His promotion is due to a succession of injuries to Keith Piper, who has had injections in his lower back and right heel. Middlesex have also recruited well from club cricket. The South African-born Moffat, from Radlett, scored 62 runs in this match and James Hewitt, from Teddington, contributed significantly with bat and ball. The final day appeared to be set up in Middlesex`s favour, but they lost nine wickets for 111 despite a half-century off 87 balls by Mark Ramprakash. Graeme Welch took a career- best five for 46 and Warwickshire galloped towards their target with an unbeaten 44 by Neil Smith in a tea score of 86 for one from 21 overs. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)