White's century all right for Northants

Rob White's brilliant 127 kept Northants in with a shout

Rob White’s magnificently-struck century was cancelled out by a middle-order collapse as Middlesex clawed their way back into the LV County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire after tea on day two at Uxbridge.

But the hosts threatened to throw it away in the last few overs as they slipped to four for two in their second innings.

The home side bowled Northamptonshire out for 377, after finishing their first innings on 340, but found batting out three overs a tricky task.

White’s 127 came from just 103 balls, including 19 fours and two sixes, but with Northamptonshire on 248 for two he was caught by home captain Ed Joyce off Shaun Udal’s delivery.

Before White’s century, Tim Murtagh had bowled both Niall O’Brien (24) and Stephen Peters (56) to leave the visitors on 165 for two.

But it was Middlesex’s performance in taking seven wickets after tea that got them back from the brink in this game.

With Northamptonshire on 281 for three, captain Nicky Boje was caught and bowled by Steven Finn just after tea for 13 - the first of three dismissals in consecutive overs.

David Sales (48) and Lance Klusener (nought) quickly followed to leave the visitors on 281 for six.

Klusener had only faced one ball before Finn’s impressive bouncer caught him out and Eoin Morgan made an excellent catch.

Middlesex opener Andrew Strauss took neat catches in the slips to dismiss Johannes Van Der Wath (16) from Tim Murtagh and Steven Crook (11) from Daniel Evans.

A 48-run partnership between Johan Louw and David Lucas gave Northamptonshire a first innings lead, before Louw (31) dragged Udal to Owais Shah at midwicket.

Lucas was last out, trapped lbw by Dawid Malan for 19.

But Middlesex were rocked when England batsman Strauss was dismissed for just four when he edged the imperious Van Der Wath to wicketkeeper O’Brien.

Then nightwatchman Finn was out lbw to the same bowler with the last ball of the day.

Middlesex had started the day on 317 for seven, and the visitors had them all out for just 23 more runs within 40 minutes of play.

Udal was the first victim, trapped lbw by Lucas, with Finn suffering the same fate after adding just five runs.

And when Danny Evans was caught behind off Van Der Wath to give the bowler figures of 5-68, yesterday’s star performer Malan was left on an unbeaten 132.