Ryan Higgins scored 115 and took four wickets on the opening day of Middlesex’s County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire at Lord’s. Middlesex closed day one on 255 all out, holding a 152-run lead.
Higgins Rescues Middlesex From 32 for 4
Middlesex began badly after Northamptonshire seamer Ben Sanderson struck twice early. His spell of 4 for 68 left the home side reeling. By the ninth over, Middlesex had lost four wickets, and their innings looked fragile.
Ben Geddes started the recovery with a gutsy 57. He drove the seamers confidently and pushed the partnership past 50. Higgins then took over. He used his feet well and survived a chance from Harry Conway, and the pair edged Middlesex into a narrow lead before Geddes was bowled by Gus Miller just before tea.
Higgins continued in the final session. Harry Duke added 28 with him, and Higgins reached his half-century by cutting Conway to the rope. He then launched a late attack on Miller, hitting a series of boundaries to reach his hundred. He added 62 for the seventh wicket with Zafar Gohar. Higgins was eventually out for 115, top-edging a slog sweep off Yuzvendra Chahal.
Higgins Also Takes Four Wickets
Higgins also made the difference with the ball. He opened the bowling with real control and took 4 for 30 from 12 overs. Danru Ferns backed him up with 4 for 29, and Northamptonshire were bowled out for 103 in 37 overs.
Middlesex struck early. Skipper Luke Procter was trapped leg before by Toby Roland-Jones for a third-ball duck. Gus Miller and Saif Zaib fell to Higgins in quick succession. Ferns took a wicket with his first delivery at Lord’s.
James Sales was the top scorer for Northamptonshire with 43. He hit several crisp boundaries before he was yorked by Ferns. Sales’ dismissal ended the innings.
What the Result Means for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire now face a steep climb in the match. Their total left them 152 runs behind, which seriously damages their hopes of overtaking Kent for the second promotion place in Division Two.
Higgins had already enjoyed a strong weekend. His century helped Middlesex’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup team beat Leicestershire in the final on Sunday. The match continues through September 27.
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