LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Middlesex 442-8 dec and 258-3 dec, Northants 307 and 29-0
Northants 5pts, Middlesex 7pts
Match scorecard

Scott Newman's 112 came off just 139 deliveries

Opener Scott Newman hit 12 fours and two sixes in a quickfire 112 as Middlesex declared their second innings on 258-3 in an effort to force victory.

Fast bowler Danny Evans had earlier taken 5-87 as the visitors bowled out Northants for 307, giving them a first innings lead of 135.

Captain Nicky Boje top-scored for Northants with an unbeaten 61.

Newman was backed by Dawid Malan (56) as Middlesex scored quickly before the hosts, set 395 to win, closed on 29-0.

Northants started the day 264 runs behind their opponents on 178-4, with David Sales and Andrew Hall resuming on 35 and 31 respectively.

Hall added just eight before edging Gareth Berg to Malan, Sales became Steven Finn's second victim on 55, and wicketkeeper Paul Harrison was trapped leg before by Evans.

Middlesex captain Shaun Udal picked up his first wicket of the innings when he forced David Lucas to nudge to Sam Robson for 16, and Jack Brooks hit only a single before falling to Evans, who completed his five-wicket haul when Robson took another sharp catch at short leg to dismiss Luke Evans for eight.

Middlesex quickly built on their advantage with Newman passing 50 off 93 balls, although he lost Andrew Strauss when the England captain hit Boje straight to Luke Evans at mid-on.

Robson made just 10 before being caught by Hall at slip off the bowling of Lucas, but Newman cut loose to reach three figures off 130 balls. His superb innings came to an end when he missed an attempted drive off Boje and was stumped by Harrison.

Middlesex declared on 258 with Malan unbeaten on 56 and Berg on 37 to leave Northants to bat out the remaining four overs. Stephen Peters and Mal Loye gave the home team hope by surviving comfortably.

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