County Championship Division One

Day Two - Middlesex 488-9 dec, Northants 89-3

Middx 5pts, Northants 1pt

Dawid Malan struck his first Championship century in almost two years as Middlesex continued to dominate on day two against Northants at Lord's yesterday.

However, there was no bowing to the chasing of personal landmarks by skipper Neil Dexter as he declared with Middlesex on 488-9, with Malan, unbeaten on 154, two runs short of equalling his career best first class score.

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Dexter himself had earlier fallen for 20 in only the second over of the day's play, while Joe Denly became another victim of former Middlesex man Steven Crook when he went for 17.

However, Malan, who resumed on 72 not out, dug in, and after reaching his first Championship ton since August 2012, was joined by John Simpson, who made a useful 67 in a

Malan (154 not out) was two short of  equalling his career-best   first-class score when Middlesex declared on 488-9, with John Simpson making a useful 67 in a sixth wicket stand of 128 with Malan.

In reply, Northants lost James Middlebrook to a seven ball duck, caught behind by Simpson off Tim Murtagh, as they slipped to 39-2 and then 68-3. but managed to see our the remaining overs without further loss.