In a thrilling encounter at the County Ground, Northampton, Northamptonshire chased down a formidable target of 311 runs to defeat Middlesex by four wickets. This victory not only marked their second win of the season in the County Championship Division Two but also kept their promotion hopes alive.

Match Highlights:

• Luke Procter and James Sales both scored brilliant centuries, forming a crucial third-wicket partnership of 156 runs.
• Procter’s captain’s innings of 107 was complemented by Sales’ 108, who took charge after Procter’s dismissal.
• Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones declared at 332-8, setting Northamptonshire a challenging target.
• Despite a proactive morning session from Middlesex, Northamptonshire managed to match and then exceed the required run rate of 4.2 per over.

Key Performances:

• Calvin Harrison finished with figures of 4-107, while Liam Guthrie took a career-best match haul of 9-154.
• Middlesex’s fielding lapses, including three dropped catches of Procter, proved costly.

Turning Points:

• Sales’ aggressive batting post-tea, including a hook shot off Helm for his half-century, kept Northamptonshire on track.
• Procter’s reverse sweep for four off Gohar brought the required run rate below three and marked the 150 partnership.

Late Drama:

• Saif Zaib was caught on the boundary off Hollman, and Sales edged to slip off Robson, but Justin Broad’s sweep shot sealed the win for Northamptonshire.

This match was a testament to Northamptonshire’s resilience and strategic batting, ensuring a memorable victory in the County Championship.