Eskinazi’s superb ton edges Middlesex ahead of Yorkshire
Yorkshire 406: Ballance 132; Franklin 3-62, Roland-Jones 3-88
Middlesex 470-8: Eskinazi 157, Franklin 99; Brooks 5-89
Close, day three: Middlesex lead Yorkshire by 64 runs
Stevie Eskinazi hit a brilliant 157 – his second century in only four first-class innings – as Middlesex forged a lead on day three at Scarborough.
The 22-year-old followed up his 106 against Lancashire last week with another patient knock against the side he faced on debut last September.
James Franklin was out for 99 before a flurry of late wickets halted Middlesex’s progress, with another draw now inevitable.
Eskinazi’s first taste of Championship cricket came in trying circumstances – Middlesex were 0-3 against Yorkshire at Lord’s and he made only four in the first innings, and 22 in the second.
His next appearance in the competition was not until the recent Lancashire match, following Nick Compton’s decision to take a break, and he demonstrated his talent with a maiden century – backed up by this outstanding innings.
The early wickets Yorkshire wanted on the third morning never materialised as Eskinazi and George Bailey added 85 to the overnight score of 130-2.
Bailey eventually fell for 62, offering a catch to Tim Bresnan, who also held on at slip after lunch to dismiss John Simpson.
Bresnan could have had Eskinazi for 84 only to see Kane Williamson put a chance down and the South African-born batsman stuttered in the 90s before eventually getting his ton.
Franklin was also tied down, taking 30 balls to get off the mark, but together they put on 172 for the fifth wicket.
Middlesex were 342-4 after 110 overs, which meant they took five bonus points out of the game to Yorkshire’s four, but Eskinazi could not see out the day.
He finally succumbed at 5.26pm by pulling Jack Brooks to Williamson on the mid-wicket boundary, having batted for six-and-a-half hours, facing 316 balls and stroking 23 fours.
His departure brought a rash of wickets, most of them to Brooks who suddenly found himself with a five-wicket haul.
He had Paul Stirling caught in the slips and also claimed the scalp of Franklin who top-edged a pull to cover just one short of a century.
