Tuesday 17 June 2014 22:47, UK
Nottinghamshire’s high-profile batting line-up fired on day four as Middlesex were left to rue a tempting declaration at Trent Bridge.
Set 385 to win in 86 overs, Notts chased down the target with six wickets and 11.1 overs to spare thanks to key contributions from Alex Hales (94), Phil Jaques (76), Michael Lumb (68) and an unbroken century partnership between James Taylor (56no) and Riki Wessels (74no).
It was the second time in the match that Hales had fallen within one blow of a century, however his opening stand of 156 alongside Jaques laid the foundations for the county's third highest fourth-innings run-chase of all-time.
Middlesex had earlier batted on for a further 35 minutes at the start of the day, adding 51 runs for the loss of four wickets, before declaring on 271-9 with Paul Stirling unbeaten on 66.
Three of the wickets were taken by Harry Gurney, all clean-bowled, as the England one-day paceman finished with 4-76 before the home side's batsmen took centre stage.
The victory sees Notts top the table with three wins from nine matches, while Middlesex, who collected eight bonus points, sit third.
An intriguing final day is in store at Chester-le-Street, where Scott Borthwick's invaluable innings of 92 helped Durham set Lancashire a victory target of 340.
The Red Rose then lost openers Paul Horton and Alex Davies lbw to Chris Rushworth to close day three on 41-2, with Australian overseas batsman Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 10.
Borthwick's knock came at a crucial time for Durham, who were wobbling on 62-4 in their second innings following two wickets in an over from Tom Smith, who maintained his fine form this season with figures of 5-42.
Smith accounted for Michael Richardson (9) and Ben Stokes (0) in the space of three balls before Borthwick and captain Paul Collingwood (47) steadied the ship.
Warwickshire assumed total control of their clash with basement boys Northamptonshire thanks to a maiden first-class century from Sam Hain and Keith Barker's unbeaten 102.
The pair helped the Bears post 602-9 declared - a first-innings lead of 290 - and hopes of an innings victory increased when Northants were reduced to 51-3 at the close on day three.
Hain, an 18-year-old right-hander born in Hong Kong, made 134 during an accomplished batting performance from Warwickshire, for whom captain Jim Troughton marked his return to the side with 69.
At Hove, Yorkshire made a strong start in reply to Sussex's first-innings 316 all out, reaching the close at the halfway stage of their fixture on 208-3.
Sussex seamer Steve Magoffin kept Yorkshire's scoring rate in check with miserly figures of 2-22 from 23 overs - including the wickets of openers Alex Lees (22) and Adam Lyth (66).
But 20-year-old Jack Leaning, batting at No 3, posted a career-best 75 not out and will return to the middle alongside Jonny Bairstow (33no) with the White Rose county trailing by 108
