Newman responds to Newton ton
Scott Newman's 95 from 114 balls contained 18 fours and helped Middlesex close 127 behind Northamtonshire at Wantage Road
Middlesex hit back strongly on the second day of their top-of-the-table clash in Division Two of the LV= County Championship against Northamptonshire, after Rob Newton’s century for the Wantage Road hosts.
Newton made 113, including 12 fours, as leaders Northants were bowled out for 276 with former West Indies paceman Corey Collymore taking 3-55.
Scott Newman then crashed 95 off just 114 balls with 18 fours in reply for Middlesex, who ended the day on 149 for two, 127 behind.
Northants resumed this morning on 145 for three after a rain-affected first day, with opener Newton on 66 and David Sales 26.
Sales was unable to add to his overnight total before he edged a superb ball by Collymore to Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson in the second over of the day.
Northants captain Andrew Hall then made 16 before he was comfortably caught by Dawid Malan at first slip off Toby Roland-Jones.
Tim Murtagh soon trapped James Middlebrook lbw, but Newton hung around to complete the second ton of his career with a single off Ollie Rayner.
The 21-year-old then went past his previous best score of 102, made against Leicestershire in the final game of last season, as Northants reached lunch on 226 for six.
But he threw his wicket away with the next ball he faced when he wildly slashed Steven Crook’s wide delivery to Simpson.
It was now slow going for the hosts and they lost Chaminda Vaas when he dragged Collymore on to his stumps before Roland-Jones pinned David Lucas in front.
Collymore then wrapped up the innings by taking out the off stump of Lee Daggett, who went for a golden duck, leaving wicketkeeper David Murphy unbeaten on 42 and giving Middlesex the full set of bowling bonus points.
Newman, who scored a hundred in the second innings of this fixture last season, went to 50 off 68 balls with a four through third man off Lucas as the visitors began their reply in style.
But he fell five runs short of a century when he was caught behind by Murphy off Middlebrook to end an opening stand of 143.
Sam Robson then fell for 37 in the following over when he smashed Vaas to Middlebrook at gully.
Nightwatchman Roland-Jones and captain Chris Rogers survived the last five overs and will both resume tomorrow on three.
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