Sam Robson’s 126* not sufficient as Middlesex and Northamptonshire end stage after final-over thriller

Northamptonshire 219 (Zaib 49, Higgins 2-33) and 380 (Whiteman 114, Gay 89) drew with Middlesex 277 (Higgins 64*, Stoneman 51, Keogh 3-52) and 322 for six (Robson 126*, Simpson 75)

Robson struck 126 not out, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of precisely 150 with John Simpson to spice up the house facet’s possibilities of chasing down 323 towards their fellow Division One strugglers. Middlesex wanted 10 from the ultimate over, bowled by Tom Taylor – and three from the final ball – however Robson may solely steer it to mid-on and scrambled again for 2, that means the scores completed stage.

The ensuing draw did little to assist both facet’s prospects within the battle to keep away from relegation, with Northamptonshire staying backside of the desk and Middlesex now 16 factors above them in ninth.

Northamptonshire’s gamers took to the sector carrying black armbands as a mark of respect for county stalwart Tony Kingston, who handed away on Wednesday on the age of 83, having served as their scorer for 32 years as much as final season.

Surprisingly, the guests – who have been 372 for seven in a single day – opted to proceed batting, however prolonged their innings by simply 11 deliveries because the final three wickets tumbled for the addition of eight extra runs. Tom Helm collected two in three deliveries to complete with three for 75, whereas Emilio Gay was final man out for 89, despatched again making an attempt to grab an formidable single and failing to beat the throw to the bowler’s finish.

Middlesex gave discover of their intent by selling white-ball specialist Stephen Eskinazi to open, however the transfer fell flat as a recurrence of the finger damage he sustained whereas fielding on the primary day pressured him to retire simply two overs into the chase. With plenty of deliveries holding low, the batting facet discovered it arduous to achieve traction and so they have been pegged again even additional when Ben Sanderson’s constant opening spell yielded wickets in successive balls.

Mark Stoneman was first to depart, adjudged lbw to at least one that may have drifted down the leg facet – however there could possibly be no dispute concerning the subsequent, which ripped out Pieter Malan’s off stump. Middlesex might need been three down quickly afterwards when Max Holden drove a ball to sq. leg and non-striker Robson finally aborted his bid for a single midway down the pitch, however Sam Whiteman’s throw whistled simply over the stumps.

Holden started brightly after lunch, chopping Sanderson for 2 boundaries and appeared properly set, contributing 37 to a partnership of 63 with Robson till off-spinner Rob Keogh castled him with a ball that turned and clipped the bails. Keogh bowled tidily all through an preliminary 11-over stint, though Simpson drove him off the again foot for 4 to lift the Seaxes’ whole past three figures as he and Robson stored the scoreboard ticking alongside.

Robson inched in the direction of his second half-century of the season by steering Tom Taylor for 3, however the required charge had already drifted above 5 an over by the point Middlesex reached tea at 147 for 3.The first seven overs after the interval introduced only a single boundary. The Seaxes have been nonetheless struggling to speed up when the partnership lastly ended, with Luke Procter holding his steadiness in entrance of the rope at lengthy off to take the catch that eliminated Simpson for 75.

Procter additionally dismissed Ryan Higgins, who miscued to midwicket, however Roland-Jones launched a feisty assault with 34 from simply 18 deliveries, together with three sixes, to steer his facet inside 40 of the goal.

Josh de Caires, with an unbeaten 17, did his finest to assist Robson haul them throughout the road, however Sanderson conceded solely 4 from the penultimate over and that proved essential as Northamptonshire did sufficient to disclaim their rivals victory.