Eskinazi ton gives Middlesex edge at Edgbaston
Warwickshire 334: Clarke 83; Murtagh 3-85, Higgins 2-38
Middlesex 302-6: Eskinazi 178*, Malan 39; Patel 3-29
Close, day two: Middlesex trail Warwickshire by 32 runs
In compiling the fourth first-class century of his career, Eskinazi – who was fortunate not to perish second ball – hit 24 fours and three sixes to put the visitors on the verge of a first-innings lead.
They closed 32 runs behind, with four first-wickets in hand, in a match bottom-of-the-table Warwickshire badly need to win.
Eskinazi had only bit-part support, with Dawid Malan (39) and Nick Compton (33) the next-best scores.
Earlier in the day, Tim Murtagh’s brilliant return catch to dismiss Keith Barker (49) triggered the loss of the last three wickets for four runs in 25 balls.
Middlesex’s reply began badly when Sam Robson fell lbw to Barker’s third ball and Nick Compton retired hurt on 12, having taking a couple of painful blows on the knee.
Eskinazi and Malan added 89 before the new England T20 international tried to cut spinner Jeetan Patel’s second ball and nicked to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.
Compton then resumed his innings and ground his way to 33 in two hours before edging Rikki Clarke behind.
While his partners came and went, Eskinazi motored on and all eyes will be on the 23-year-old when he resumes on Wednesday to see if he can engineer a healthy lead for his team.
