Udal spins web around Northants

Former England spinner Shaun Udal claimed his first five-wicket haul of the season to help maintain Middlesex’s dominant position in their LV County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The 39-year-old took 5-36 and ripped through the Northamptonshire lower order, skittling the hosts for 256 in their first innings, giving Middlesex a lead of 289.

Andrew Strauss then picked up where he left off on day one by smashing 76 as Middlesex declared for the second time on 171 for two.

The England left-hander had earlier made 172 in Middlesex’s 545 for seven first time around.

Monty Panesar was again the most penetrative home bowler, his two wickets giving him match figures of 7-195.

Northamptonshire have not tasted victory since July and a rare win looks out of reach with the hosts already one down chasing 461 after finishing day three on 84 for one.

David Sales was the first Northamptonshire batsman to fall in the morning when he was bowled for 45 by Alan Richardson.

Sales’ departure made way for a Udal show - with the off-spinner removing Mark Nelson for nine in his first over and Riki Wessels for 78 as his side took control.

Wessels – who was dropped by stand-in wicketkeeper John Simpson – was trapped leg-before attempting to sweep the evergreen Udal.

Monty Panesar toiled away alongside Nicky Boje with Northants' pacemen listless

Captain Nicky Boje and Steven Crook steadied the innings by taking 15 off Owais Shah’s part-time off-spin, but proceedings still looked bleak for the visitors at lunch.

Northants lost four wickets for 17 runs just after lunch and Udal was the star of the show.

The former Hampshire man finished off the innings with 3-0 from 19 balls to claim his best Middlesex figures of 5-36 from 19.5 overs.

Steven Crook departed for 22 after bottom-edging Udal’s delivery onto his middle stump, then Boje followed for 32 after chipping straight to Steve Finn at mid-on.

Panesar gave England team-mate Shah an easy chance in the covers to complete the collapse.

Despite holding an impressive lead, Middlesex captain Udal did not enforce the follow-on and it looked a good decision as Strauss and Billy Godleman put their foot down.

Strauss departed soon after the tea break but not after he had raced to his runs off just 75 balls, hitting nine fours, while Godleman contributed with 55.

Tim Murtagh struck early for Middlesex, dismissing Stephen Peters for two after a fantastic catch by Shah low down at slip.

Rob White led the counter-attack by smashing a rapid unbeaten 55 before the close of play, but Northants have a mountain to climb.