Voges and Gubbins on form for Middlesex

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Close, day two: Middlesex 306-7 trail Somerset 408 by 102 runs

Adam Voges and Nick Gubbins both narrowly missed out on centuries on a disrupted second day at Taunton.

The pair put on 139 for the third wicket but neither could make their ton, with opener Gubbins out for 92 and skipper Voges making 98.

Sam Robson (5) and Neil Dexter (7) both fell cheaply but James Franklin scored an unbeaten 41 in his first Middlesex innings.

However two wickets just before the close put Somerset in a strong position as Middlesex closed on 306-7, still 102 behind.

The day began badly for Middlesex with Robson edging Lewis Gregory to slip before Gubbins and Nick Compton shared in a 50 partnership.

Compton went for 28 but Gubbins ground out a half-century and he and Voges guided Middlesex to 123-2 at lunch.

Australian Voges reached his 50 before rain and then bad light midway through the afternoon forced an early tea.

At that stage, Gubbins was stuck on 91, four short of his best first-class score – also made against Somerset – but he fell shortly after the resumption.

Voges and Franklin put on 47 and the skipper was on the verge of making his century when he was trapped lbw by Lewis Gregory (4-88).

Dexter, back in the side after missing out against Nottinghamshire, scored only seven, but Franklin shared in a stand of 41 with John Simpson.

However shortly before stumps, Jamie Overton removed Simpson and Ollie Rayner in the same over, just after the new ball was taken, to give Somerset a boost going into Tuesday’s third day.

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