By Jeremy Blackmore, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
DAY ONE
Zafar Gohar and Joe Cracknell both hit unbeaten sixties in an enterprising seventh wicket stand of 120 to prevent Middlesex from being bowled out cheaply on day one of this Rothesay County Championship encounter at Wantage Road.
The pair came together with their side in trouble at 164 for six and frustrated Northamptonshire’s bowlers for 32 overs either side of tea. Former Pakistan international Zafar, playing his 100th first-class game, hit 62, his highest innings for the Seaxes, while Cracknell top scored with 66. They had taken the total to 284 for six from 73 overs when bad light stopped play early at 5pm.
Middlesex were in trouble early as Northamptonshire's opening bowlers Harry Conway (3-49) and Harry Conway (2-63) took early wickets to reduce the visitors to 20 for three. Ben Geddes fought back, though with a fluent 65, putting on a quickfire 85 stand with skipper Leus du Plooy, who struck 51.
Sanderson then had both caught in the slips, giving the hosts hope they could finish off Middlesex cheaply, but Zafar and Cracknell had other ideas.
Earlier, Middlesex rued their decision to bat after winning the toss as Northamptonshire struck in the first three overs, Josh de Caires and Max Holden both well caught at short leg by James Sales off Sanderson and Conway respectively.
Conway soon picked up a second when Robson prodded outside off-stump and was well caught above his head by Calvin Harrison at second slip.
The ball kept nibbling around enough to keep the slip cordon interested, but runs started to flow more easily, du Plooy pulling and driving Luke Procter for consecutive boundaries.
Geddes was driving the ball cleanly too, and the pair marked their 50 partnership at just over a run a ball.
du Plooy brought up his half-century but fell two balls later when Sanderson nipped one away, drawing the edge, Ricardo Vasconcelos taking a low catch at first slip.
Geddes was soon into his work after lunch, looking assured as he unfurled a sumptuous cover drive to reach his half-century. Soon afterwards, though he edged behind against Sanderson, Harrison took a well-judged tumbling catch at second slip.
Ryan Higgins, who drove Conway through the covers early on, had played a largely supporting role to Geddes throughout their partnership of 45 in 10 overs. Growing becalmed, he tried to break the shackles, playing across the line to Harrison, only to pick out Saif Zaib at mid-on.
That brought Zafar out to join Cracknell, and his innings was not without risks. He went for his shots, often aerially, including upper-cutting Liam Guthrie for six, but looked more composed and assured as the afternoon wore on.
Cracknell, meanwhile, deployed the cut and pull against Harrison to garner boundaries and found runs against Conway too.
Both batters marked their half-centuries after tea, and while they each edged just wide of slip off Harrison, they looked largely untroubled before play finished early.
Northamptonshire Men
Middlesex Men
