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Middx held

Ton up
By Jeremy Horne
August 22 2004
A century from Owais Shah and a half century from Paul Weekes were all in vain as Middlesex were held to a draw by a gutsy 73 not out from Northamtonshire batsman David Sales. Set 267 to win, the home side reached 155-7 before the game was called a draw.

DAY 3 NEWS

Usman Afzaal scored a fine century as batting continued to be tough on day 3 at Northampton. His ton, together with a half centuries from David Sales and Johann Louw saw Norhtants avoid the potential follow on, finishing with a first innings deficit of 50. Middlesex then reached 41-1 at stumps in their second innings.

DAY 2 NEWS

The second day of the match was greeted by rare periods of hot sunshine as Middlesex tried to press on in their first innings. Unfortunately, the batting was not as hot as the patchy weather and the Northants bowlers capitalised as the Middlesex batsmen were unable to dominate on a difficult wicket.

Ben Hutton was dismissed dead on 100, after nightwatchman Chris Peploe had also been taken early. Ed Joyce and Paul Weekes steadied the ship in a half century stand, despite Joyce finding scoring particularly tough. Middlesex’s stand in captain only managed to score 23 runs in almost a session and a half as he braved it out in the middle. The ‘sex did have some moments of glory though, with Simon Cook and Stuart Clark hitting some late runs to ensure that we reached a third batting point, which had at one stage looked doubtful. Clark played a entertaining innings, despatching six fours and a six behind square on the leg side.

In response to the ‘sex’s 345, Northants lost two wickets in the opening three overs, with Nantie Hayward taking a wicket in his first over on return from the South African test team. Rob White then left a ball on off stump from Simon Cook and found himself clean bowled for a duck.

Mark Powell soon followed after the tea break, as Northants struggled to 24-3, but defiance from Usman Afzaal and David Sales took the score up to 89 at stumps.

DAY 1 NEWS:

Ben Hutton reached the 1,000 run a season mark for the first time in his career hitting 88* at Wantage Road. He was supported by Owais Shah who hit 62 before being out late on in the day as Middlesex reached 182/2 at close. Hutton continues tomorrow with Chris Peoploe the night watchman

Please click here for a scorecard on this match.

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