Dawid Malan’s heavy scoring sets up an intriguing final day in Middlesex, reports Gareth Stevens.

Malan backed up his 124 in the first innings with a brisk 48 in the second to see Middlesex end day three in a position of strength. They lead Somerset by 243 runs with 8 wickets in hand going into the final day.

Alfonso Thomas snared one of the two Middlesex wickets to fall yesterday and kept a lid on the scoring rate. Runs flowed from the other end though, and a declaration is expected to come during the morning session. It will then be up to Alviro Petersen and the rest of Somerset’s strong batting lineup to decide if they will chase the target or play for the draw.

At Headingley, Yorkshire scored 426 in the first innings. Keaton Jennings compiled a patient 56 at the top of the order in Durham’s reply, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the follow on as they were dismissed for 231.

Jennings was out for the second time in the day, for 16, just before the close of play. Durham reached 59-1 at stumps on day three, still trailing by 136 runs. They will have to bat out the final day with their nine remaining wickets in order to stave off defeat.

In division two, Wayne Madsen scored 59 in Derbyshire’s second innings in Chesterfield. His side lead Essex by 235 runs with 5 wickets in hand going into the final days play.

It caps a good match for the No 3 who scored 90 in the first dig. Quick runs will be the objective in the morning session before the bowlers are given an opportunity to force the win in the afternoon.

Elsewhere, Kyle Abbott struggled at the Rose Bowl, bowling 22 wicketless overs during Gloucestershire’s first innings of 446-5. The visitors are expected to have a crack at Hampshire during the final day in an attempt to force a result in a match that has lost a number of overs to the weather.

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