Kent Leave Middlesex Chasing 170 More on Final Day

Middlesex need another 170 runs with six wickets standing to defeat Kent on the final day of their County Championship Division Two match at Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood. The hosts reached 186-4 at Saturday's close while chasing 356, with Leus du Plooy unbeaten on 36.

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The BBC Sport report, supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network, said Ekansh Singh changed the contest after Middlesex's openers had taken the score to 68 without loss. The 20-year-old finished with 3-35, removing Sam Robson, Max Holden and Luke Hollman as the home side slipped to 103-3. Singh entered the match with 10 first-class wickets.

Ben Geddes and du Plooy responded with an attacking partnership, taking Middlesex's chase forward after the top-order damage. Geddes made 37 before Keith Dudgeon induced a pull shot that was caught at long leg. Du Plooy remained at the crease at stumps, leaving Middlesex with a demanding but still possible target on day four.

Earlier, Kent were dismissed for 254 in their second innings after beginning the day on 38-2 with a lead of 139. Tawanda Muyeye scored 64 at close to a run a ball and Ben Compton top-scored with 65. Their 93-run second-wicket partnership helped Kent move their advantage beyond 200 despite continued movement for the seamers.

Muyeye reached his half-century before Zafar Gohar trapped him leg before wicket as he attempted a sweep. Daniel Bell-Drummond added 39 before Gohar bowled him with the final delivery before lunch. Compton made his fifty from 98 balls and eventually fell to a juggling catch by Holden at cover off Tom Helm.

Helm led Middlesex's bowling figures with 3-31 and Ryan Higgins took 3-83. Helm dismissed Singh with the delivery immediately after removing Compton, but Dudgeon survived the hat-trick ball. Chris Benjamin then contributed 45 to help Kent set a target above 350. Kent, who collected six points from the first three days compared with Middlesex's three, are pursuing promotion from Division Two.