Rogers and Middlesex chase Notts victory

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Close, day three: Middlesex 505 & 220-5 lead Nottinghamshire 392 by 333 runs

Middlesex face a tactical dilemma on the final day at Trent Bridge as they push for victory over Nottinghamshire.

Skipper Chris Rogers will need to decide whether to declare overnight to give his side maximum time to bowl Notts out, but potentially leaving them an achievable target of 334.

Tim Murtagh was the hero with the ball, taking a further four wickets to finish with figures of 6-93 as Nottinghamshire avoided the follow-on but gave up a first-innings deficit of 113.

Rogers (48) top scored as Middlesex at one stage were reduced to 140-5 but an unbroken stand of 80 between John Simpson (44 not out) and Paul Stirling (30 not out) increased the visitors’ advantage.

Nottinghamshire resumed on 258-4 but Middlesex made a crucial early breakthrough when Toby Roland-Jones removed Samit Patel for 77.

Riki Wessels (71) and Chris Read (32) guided their side to the verge of avoiding the follow-on, before Murtagh changed the dynamic of the match with two wickets in two balls.

He first bowled Read and had Peter Siddle caught behind for a golden duck but was unable to complete his hat-trick.

Wessels also fell before the follow-on target had been reached, with Notts slipping from 333-5 to 345-8 but Andre Adams settled the nerves with two sixes.

Luke Fletcher produced a fine knock of 40 in 42 balls to reduce Middlesex’s lead before becoming another of Murtagh’s victims.

Rogers began Middlesex’s second innings in attacking mode with 48 off just 42 balls and while the rest of the top order got settled in, none went on to make telling contributions.

Siddle removed Eoin Morgan (20) and Neil Dexter (29) in successive overs to check Middlesex’s progress.

But the partnership between Simpson and Stirling has established a healthy lead, and Notts look like needing almost four an over if they have ambitions to chase down the runs required.

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