Murtagh puts Middlesex in command

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Close, day three: Middlesex 402 & 104-3 v Warwickshire 324

Middlesex 6pts, Warwickshire 4pts

Middlesex will go into the final day at Uxbridge with a 183-run lead thanks to another superb effort with both bat and ball.

Attack leader Tim Murtagh finished with figures of 4-77 after dismissing the dangerous Ian Westwood at a crucial time and then denied Tim Ambrose a half-century – another timely wicket.

Neil Dexter joined Gareth Berg and Ollie Rayner in the wickets to bowl Warwickshire out by tea with a 78-run lead.

And that was further extended by Dexter, who was 45 not out at close with Eoin Morgan (7no), after Chris Rogers, Joe Denly and Dawid Malan all fell before stumps.

Murtagh provided a stunning performance to nudge Middlesex’s first innings over 400 runs on day two and he was once again imperative for his side with the ball.

Westwood resumed the morning on 89 and skilfully made his 100 in the opening overs, despite Murtagh being determined to deny him.

Murtagh finally had his man after Jim Troughton had already been dismissed by Berg, stopping Westwood turning his 111 into a truly significant score.

Ambrose’s 40 attempted to pick up the chase but Murtagh struck again in the early afternoon to put the visitors six down for 271, and the rest tumbled within another 25 overs before tea.

Middlesex lost Denly in the sixth over for 16, and then were 51-2 in the 14th when Rogers was trapped lbw.

But with Dexter on form, Middlesex are in a good position to take the lead over 200 and then send Warwickshire under the spotlight on the final day.

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