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Yorkshire win again as Middlesex keep Worcestershire at bay

LEEDS, ENGLAND - JUNE 24:  Ryan Sidebottom of Yorkshire bowls alongside Stuart Broad of Nottinghamshire during day three of the LV County Championship Divi
Image: Ryan Sidebottom of Yorkshire (L) bowls alongside Stuart Broad of Nottinghamshire (R)

Yorkshire thrashed Nottinghamshire by an innings and eight runs at Headingley on Wednesday to continue their unbeaten start to the season, despite a starring performance from birthday boy Stuart Broad.

England star Broad, celebrating his 29th birthday, took seven wickets for 84 runs before hitting a half-century off just 41 balls for the visitors. 

But it was not enough to prevent a comprehensive fourth win of the season for Yorkshire, who move to within nine points of LV= County Championship Division One leaders Durham with a game in hand. 

Yorkshire resumed in the morning on 302-3, with captain Andrew Gale on 144 and Jack Leaning on 107. After adding a boundary in Broad's first over of the day, Gale was lbw to the next delivery, before Leaning chopped on to Broad for 110. 

Broad briefly threatened to make a contest of the encounter, taking 5-29 from 11.4 overs, the fourth best return of his career. But an unbeaten 52 from Tim Bresnan helped the hosts on their way to 430 and a first-innings lead of 206, gathering in a maximum batting bonus in the process. 

Any hopes of a long Notts rearguard action were soon dampened when Brendan Taylor was picked up at gully in Ryan Sidebottom's first over.

Michael Lumb offered some signs of resistance, but Nottinghamshire's hopes disappeared when he was lbw to Bresnan to make it 84-5.

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Broad hammered eight fours and a six on his way to 50 from 41 balls, but he was caught at mid-wicket by Gale from the 42nd, and Notts' hopes of saving some face by avoiding the innings defeat ended when Jake Ball skied James Middlebrook to long off, where Sidebottom was waiting to seal the win. 

LEEDS, ENGLAND - JUNE 24:  Stuart Broad of Nottinghamshire celebrates with teammates after dismissing Jack Leaning of Yorkshire during day three of the LV
Image: Stuart Broad: Seven wickets for 84 runs for Notts

The defeat leaves Notts rooted to the bottom of the table. 

Middlesex keep Worcestershire at bay

Elsewhere in Division One, James Franklin added 91 not out to his first innings 135 as Middlesex earned a draw with Worcestershire on the last day of their match at Uxbridge.

Middlesex captain Franklin featured in two impressive stands, the second an unbroken partnership for the eighth
wicket with James Harris, who finished unbeaten on 59 in a second innings total of 362-7 declared.

With an overall lead of 286, Middlesex then made sure of avoiding a match over rate points deduction by racing through 11 overs as Worcestershire batted out time on 39-1 in their second innings. 

On an attritional final day, Worcestershire's final chance of forcing a result came when Joe Leach took two wickets with the second new ball in the first eight overs after lunch, leaving Middlesex just 183 runs in front at 259-7.

But Harris' skill and composure with the bat helped Franklin guide Middlesex to safety. 

Middlesex captain James Franklin said afterwards: "There were two tricky periods for us today - the first hour and then immediately after lunch when we had to face the second new ball.

"We got through that second tricky period and secured the draw." 

Middlesex took 10 points from the game, while Worcestershire's 12 was enough to take them off the bottom of the table.

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