Scott saves Middlesex

Ben Scott's unbeaten century put Middlesex in command © Getty Images

A career-best innings from Ben Scott gave Middlesex a chance of their third successive win as they enter the final day with a lead of 340 runs in their LV County Championship Division Two match at Uxbridge.

Scott completed his hundred in the 85th over and finished the day unbeaten on 141 from 178 balls with 22 fours and a six out of a total of 377 for eight.

He and Eoin Morgan shared a seventh-wicket stand of 128 after Middlesex had earlier been reduced to 98 for five - a lead of just 61 - with all five wickets going to Johann van der Wath, giving him 10 for the match.

Before Scott had completed his third first-class century, Morgan was denied his first championship ton for Middlesex - falling seven runs short when he was out in the penultimate over before tea to a loose drive off Johann Louw. He faced 167 balls with 13 fours and a six.

After resuming four for two, Middlesex soon lost opener Billy Godleman in the 11th over of the day with the score on 33 when he gave a simple catch to Niall O’Brien behind the stumps.

Owais Shah (12) fell after a further single was added when he shaped to play through the leg-side but was deceived by the late movement from van der Wath as the ball pitched on leg stump and hit off.

With Middlesex still two runs behind after Northamptonshire had scored 377 in their first innings, skipper Ed Joyce and Morgan steadied the ship with a vital fifth-wicket stand of 63 before Joyce was dismissed for 38 just after lunch to the O’Brien-van der Wath combination.

Dawid Malan, who scored an unbeaten 132 in the first innings, did not last long as he sliced Lance Klusener to backward point for just a single, which then brought Scott to the crease and along with Morgan pushed the score past 200.

After Morgan had departed, Scott the shared a stand of 73 in quick time with Tim Murtagh, before Scott, on 96, ran his partner out for 33 looking for an impossible second run.

He continued to dominate the Northamptonshire attack, particularly England spinner Monty Panesar, making a rare championship appearance for his county.

Panesar bowled 21 overs, conceding 76 runs - including eight fours and two sixes - and never really looked like taking a wicket.

Shaun Udal and Scott smashed 50 between from only 40 balls towards the end of the day with Udal unbeaten on 26 at the close.