CRICKET – Two wickets for Holder as solid Northants debut continues

LONDON, CMC – West Indies captain Jason Holder captured two wickets in an incisive spell to help Northamptonshire take control of their County Championship Division Two encounter against Middlesex on Saturday.

At the close of the second day at Wantage Road, the visitors were 134 for seven, still well adrift of Northants’ first innings of 445.

Middlesex started well when Sam Robson (26) and Nick Gubbins (22) put on 39 for the first wicket but Holder, who bowled first change, removed both as the hosts made quick inroads.

First, Holder had left-hander Gubbins caught at first slip, nicking a defensive prod to captain Alex Wakely and then claimed Robson caught at the wicket, cutting at a short delivery.

England ODI and T20 captain Eoin Morgan made 25 before he was sixth out, caught at third slip pushing tentatively at fast bowler Nathan Buck (2-28).

Earlier, Holder had failed to expand on his overnight 36 when he was dismissed in the sixth over of the morning after adding just four, edging one from seamer Tim Murtagh (6-80) to be caught at the wicket.

Northants, resuming on 310 for six, were lifted by number eight Luke Proctor, who lashed an unbeaten 81 from 132 balls with eight fours and two sixes, after starting the day on nine.