Middlesex dominated the second day's play in the LV County Championship match against Leicestershire at Southgate; the visitors were in trouble on 161-5 at the close, still needing a further 183 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Resuming on 281-2 after rain washed out any play after tea on the opening day, Middlesex opener Phillip Hughes scored a sharp single off the second ball of the morning’s play to complete his second hundred for the county in successive matches.

He lost his overnight partner, Neil Dexter, in the third over when he was caught at the wicket for 27. Crowe continued his marathon spell of off-spin bowling from the Waterfall Road End, with the three Leicestershire seam bowlers rotating at the Adelaide End. Eoin Morgan joined Hughes at the wicket but the pair were made to work hard for runs with the visiting bowlers bowling a better line.

Only 51 runs were scored off the first 17 overs of the morning before Hughes greeted a new spell from Harris by hitting his first three deliveries for four, six and four. Harris was to have his revenge in his 17th over when Hughes was caught at the wicket for 139 (off 228 balls, 3 sixes & 13 fours).

Dawid Malan was out first ball, bowled by a fine delivery from Harris, but Ben Scott prevented the ‘hat-trick’. Eoin Morgan gained in confidence, reaching his fifty off 89 balls (7 fours) before Middlesex lost two further wickets before lunch. Ben Scott became Paul Nixon’s fourth victim behind the stumps when Scott was caught for three off Wayne White. S

haun Udal was then bowled by White for a second ball duck and Middlesex went into lunch on 385-7 (Morgan 56 not out). Tim Murtagh had the majority of the strike immediately after lunch as Middlesex claimed a fifth batting bonus point. Only 41 runs were scored off the first 13 overs after lunch before the batsmen accelerated. Murtagh took eleven runs off a Crowe over before Morgan took over, hitting Harris and Crowe for sixes and reaching his third LV County Championship hundred (off 134 balls, 3 sixes & 13 fours).

Tim Murtagh reached his first fifty for Middlesex (off 70 balls, 3 fours) before Udal declared on 493-7. Eoin Morgan was 114 not out with Tim Murtagh 51 not out.

The Leicestershire openers, Boyce and New, survived the thirteen overs before tea, going into the break on 48-0. Steve Finn came on to bowl immediately after tea, and with the last ball of his opening over, had Boyce caught at the wicket for 27. Finn was on a ‘hat-trick’ when he trapped Dippenaar LBW for a first ball duck, but Ackerman survived the following delivery.

Tom New played some fine shots through the covers and backward of cover point, scoring six boundaries in the space of 18 balls to reach his fifty (off 74 balls, 11 fours). The total advanced to 125-2 before Shaun Udal had New caught at silly mid-off by Neil Dexter for 66. Alan Richardson then took the prised wicket of HD Ackerman, trapping him LBW for 29 without addition to the score.

Josh Cobb was joined by skipper Paul Nixon, and these two took the visitors to 151-4 with four overs remaining. Steve Finn then induced a rash shot from Nixon who was caught by Alan Richardson at mid-off for eight. Taylor joined Cobb and the pair saw Leicestershire through to 161-5 at the close of play.

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