McSweeney and Sales fight back against Middlesex
Nathan McSweeney and James Sales share an unbroken century partnership as Northants reach 229-4, replying to Middlesex's 341 all out.
James Sales and Nathan McSweeney have so far added 131 for Northamptonshire [Getty Images] Rothesay County Championship, Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day two) Middlesex 341: Gohar 83, Cracknell 79, Geddes 65; Sanderson 5-62, Conway 3-74 Northamptonshire 229-4: McSweeney 87*, Sales 78*; Roland-Jones 2-49 Northants (3pts) trail Middlesex (3pts) by 112 with six wickets standing Match scorecard Nathan McSweeney and James Sales combined in an unbeaten century partnership to put Northamptonshire firmly back in contention on day two of their County Championship match against Middlesex at Wantage Road. Australian McSweeney hit a sparkling 87, while Sales struck 78, including 16 boundaries, as the pair helped the hosts recover after losing early wickets, adding 131 off 177 balls. Northamptonshire closed on 229-4, trailing by 112 runs, Toby Roland-Jones taking two for 49 for the visitors.
Ben Sanderson claimed his second five-wicket haul of the season as Middlesex were bowled out for 341 in the morning after resuming on 284-6. Zafar Gohar was the last man out for a well-made 83, as Sanderson finished with 5-62 and Harry Conway 3-74. but picked up a groin injury while fielding early in Northamptonshire's reply.
Middlesex were given permission by the match referee to make their first injury substitution of the season, Luke Hollman coming in as his like-for-like replacement. Earlier Gohar and Joe Cracknell extended their seventh-wicket partnership to 140 before Cracknell (79) was caught at mid-wicket off Calvin Harrison. Roland-Jones was then well caught off the leading edge by George Bartlett at third slip, trying to work Sanderson to leg, and Tom Helm top edged to backward square.
Gohar found runs easier to come by, the highlight being a handsome straight drive off Sanderson, but he was the last wicket to fall, caught off the top edge by Conway off his own bowling. Northamptonshire had taken all 10 wickets in a Championship innings through catches for the first time in 21 years. Middlesex's bowlers found early movement, Luke Procter trapped lbw by Helm with Harrison departing next over without scoring, caught off the leading edge at cover.