Rogers takes Middlesex close to safety

Close, day four: Somerset 523-9 dec drew with Middlesex 223 & 328-4 dec
Somerset 11pts, Middlesex 7pts


Chris Rogers scored a magnificent double century to steer Middlesex to a draw and boost their hopes of avoiding relegation from Division One.

Somerset seemed certain to be heading for victory after scoring 523 in their first innings and reducing Middlesex to 64-7 on day two.

But, after a fine lower-order batting effort had taken the visitors to an unlikely first-innings total, Australian opener Rogers led from the front in the inevitable follow-on to help them reach 328 for the loss of just four wickets.

The result means Middlesex will stay up if they avoid defeat against relegation rivals Lancashire in the final game of the season next week.

And even a defeat could be good enough to keep them up, depending on the bonus-point situation against Lancashire.

Rogers’ final-day heroics against Somerset set up that situation but much of the work was done by the left-hander on the third day as he guided them to 140-1 at the close of play.

The day started badly, however, with Dawid Malan unable to add to his overnight score of 34.

He was caught by Marcus Trescothick off the bowling of Matthew Leach, but Malwan’s was the only wicket to fall in the morning session and Joe Denly’s stubborn innings provided the perfect foil for Rogers.

Denly had scored 60 from 147 balls before being trapped lbw by Craig Overton, who set Middlesex nerves jangling by taking the wicket of Eoin Morgan for a duck soon after.

But Rogers continued to play with typical quality and concentration, hitting 29 fours in his mammoth match-saving 386-ball knock.

Rogers reached his double ton with a four just and – with a lead of 28, six wickets remaining and the game petering out to an inevitable draw – Middlesex declared with just over an hour left of scheduled play.

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