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Division One: Middlesex collapse at Taunton; twin centurions power Notts - and Durham

James Hildreth. Somerset v Middlesex. County Championship. Taunton. Sep 2014.
Image: James Hildreth: Somerset batsman struck his first championship hundred of the season

Middlesex were reduced to 64-7 in reply to Somerset's first-innings 523-9 declared on day two of their County Championship match at Taunton.

James Hildreth completed his first championship century of the season as Somerset, on 266-5 overnight, took a stranglehold on the contest.

Unbeaten on 70 at the start of the day, former England Lions batsman Hildreth was finally dismissed for 182, having faced 362 balls and hit 22 fours.

Peter Trego made 91 and Craig Overton 63 on a pitch which had lost some green but still offered assistance to the bowlers.

Their efforts were put in perspective when Middlesex slumped to 11-4, Trego (2-17) and Alfonso Thomas (2-14) claiming two wickets each.

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Middlesex lost three more wickets before the close, which came with the still requiring 310 to avoid the follow-on. Eoin Morgan was 36 not out, while left-arm spinner Jack Leach took 2-3 from his six overs.

The Londoners need what now appears an unlikely victory in this match in order to secure their top-flight status at the expense of Lancashire before the two sides meet at Old Trafford next week in the final round of the season.

Instant impact

Opener Jake Libby hit 108 on his county debut as Nottinghamshire's revival continued against Sussex at Trent Bridge.

The hosts must win to have any chance of pipping Warwickshire to second place behind champions Yorkshire - and after finally bowling Sussex out for 391, Devon-born Cardiff University graduate Libby put them on a sound footing.

Alex Hales (57) and James Taylor (101 no) shared stands of 97 and 181 with 21-year-old Libby, who reached his maiden first-class century with his 15th four from 247 balls, in a stumps total of 310-3.

Scott Borthwick (136) hit his second century in successive matches, and put on 187 with his captain Paul Collingwood (101) as Durham tried to make up for time lost to a first-day washout against relegated Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street.

The hosts reached 362-8 in their first innings, despite Neil Wagner's 4-95 and Mohammad Azharullah's 3-79, when bad light brought a slightly early close.

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