LV= County Championship Division One

Day three: Middlesex 338 & 169-2 v Somerset 264-9 dec

Middlesex 6pts Somerset 5pts

He last week told Get West London he was confident he could bat anywhere for Middlesex - but rookie Nick Gubbins yesterday gave anther master class in top order batting.

Gubbins' unbeaten half century helped Middlesex build a 243-run lead on day three at Uxbridge, his career-best 67, along with Dawid Malan's 48, helping their side reach the close on 169-2.

Gubbins, covering for England batsman Sam Robson, had already surpassed his previous best in the first innings when he hit 59, the 20-year-old's second knock including nine fours and a six to give his side a good chance of pressing for a final-day victory.

Earlier, former Middlesex man Nick Compton made 94 off 278 balls but then top-edged Steven Finn [3-80] to long leg, and Somerset immediately called a halt on 264-9, still 74 behind.

It looked to have paid off when Alfonso Thomas dismissed Chris Rogers for two, but Gubbins and Malan dug in for the hosts.

Gubbins said: "It's gone okay so far, but I've had slight mixed emotions with the previous two 50s because I didn't go on. Converting 50s into 100s is something I'm very keen to learn to do.

"There is a bit of up and down (bounce) with the new ball but it does go soft quite quickly. We will have to reassess the situation in the morning and see whether we think spin will play some part."

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