Middlesex flop as Yorkshire title bid ends

Close, day two: Yorkshire 210 & 4-0 lead Middlesex 128 by 86 runs

Middlesex’s batsmen failed to capitalise on the work of their bowlers at Headingley on the day Durham all but pipped the hosts to the County Championship.

Corey Collymore and Tim Murtagh ended with three wickets apiece as Yorkshire slipped from 109-3 overnight to 210 all out.

But, on a rain-affected day dominated by the ball, Middlesex were unable to get anywhere close to a first innings lead, instead being skittled for just 128.

Yorkshire’s openers saw out the final five overs without alarm but they seem powerless to prevent Durham from taking the title.

Earlier in the day, Tim Murtagh and Gareth Berg picked up the wickets of England batsman Jonny Bairstow and Test hopeful Gary Ballance to peg Yorkshire back to 166-5.

Teenage debutant Tom Helm then claimed his first two Championship wickets, removing one-time England all-rounder Adil Rashid and then having New Zealand Test batsman Kane Williamson caught behind for 52.

Berg, Murtagh and Collymore wrapped up the tail, either side of a rain delay, as the hosts lost their last four wickets for 23.

However, Yorkshire’s attack proved just as potent with Chris Rogers and Joe Denly falling inside the first six overs.

Sam Robson was the only batsman to make a decent score and his 45 from 70 balls helped Middlesex to a respectable 86-3.

When the rain returned during the evening session, they had moved on to 106-5 – but a dramatic collapse to 115-9 put Yorkshire firmly on top and Middlesex were eventually dismissed for 128.

Adam Lyth and Phil Jacques, who both failed in the first innings, this time survived the last few overs to give the home side an overnight lead of 86.

But their title challenge appears in tatters as Durham require just 62 more runs to beat Nottinghamshire and win the County Championship.

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