Captain Chris Rogers insists an earlier declaration would not have made any difference as Middlesex played out a frustrating draw with Northants yesterday.

Rogers waited until after lunch on the final day, by which time his side had a lead of 303, before his second declaration of the match, leaving less than two sessions to bowl Northants out for a second time.

In the end, they took three second innings wickets, but had to settle for a share of the spoils against County Championship Division One's bottom side, who had lost all seven of their previous games.

Rogers said: "The pitch was still a featherbed, with nothing in it for our spinner. I don't think declaring a bit earlier would have made any difference though.

"I don't think we bowled or fielded as well as we can in this match, and we are not maintaining pressure enough with the ball.

"It's a tough one to swallow, not beating the bottom club. No disrespect to Northants, but in our position we would expect to beat them."

Return to form: Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten 81 off 96 balls

Perhaps Rogers had in mind Middlesex's previous Championship game against Nottinghamshire, another game in which his side put on more than 500 in the first innings but failed to win.

On that occasion, Rogers declared in the second innings with Middlesex 384 in front, but Notts still managed to come back and win by six wickets.

There was little danger of a defeat this time, but the caution shown following their Trent Bridge experience cost Middlesex a victory which should have been theirs.

The one bright spot for the hosts on the final day was a return to form for Eoin Morgan, who hit an unbeaten 81 off 96 balls, including two sixes and nine fours, as Middlesex tried to set what would seem a safe target as soon as they could.

Steve Finn, Tim Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones then took a wicket each, but it was nowhere near enough as honours finished even, with Middlesex slipping to fifth in the table.