Ryan Higgins took four wickets and scored 115 as Middlesex secured a 152-run first-innings lead over Northamptonshire on the opening day at Lord’s. The performance severely damaged the visitors’ promotion prospects in the final round of the County Championship.
Northamptonshire elected to bat first but were dismissed for 103. Danru Ferns, making his Lord’s debut, took a wicket with his first delivery at the ground and finished with 4 for 29. Higgins claimed 4 for 30, including the dismissal of Ben Sanderson, who was bowled after not playing a shot to a straight delivery.
Middlesex fell to 32 for 4 in their response as Sanderson returned 4 for 68. However, Higgins and Ben Geddes led a recovery that saw the hosts reach 255 all out. It was the second century for Higgins in five days, following his performance in the One-Day Cup final on September 20.
Ben Kosky noted that Higgins “recreated last weekend’s 50-over heroics with another century to help Middlesex take control on a wicket-laden first day.”
Northamptonshire currently trail Kent in the race for the second promotion spot in Division Two. The visitors’ late-season tactical signing, Yuzvendra Chahal, finished the day with 0 for 31 from six overs as the Middlesex lower order looked to score quickly.
Luke McLaughlin observed that “Sanderson seems keen to make up for his bizarre earlier dismissal, when he effectively left a straight one from Higgins,” as the seamer led the Northants attack during the Middlesex top-order collapse.
