Middlesex in command after Robson ton

Close, day two: Middlesex 445-5 lead Sussex 229 by 216 runs

Sam Robson’s superb 166 took Middlesex to maximum batting points and put them in control against the County Championship leaders.

The opener, who has struggled for a big score since his double century against Warwickshire in May, returned to form in style, until he was bowled by Monty Panesar.

Joe Denly (77) and Neil Dexter (48) were also among the runs as Middlesex scored at more than four an over on a warm day at Hove.

The visitors closed on 445-5, fully 229 runs ahead with two days remaining.

The bowlers put Middlesex in a strong position on Wednesday, bowling Sussex out for 229, and the batsmen cashed in, with two century partnerships and four of 50 or more.

After Dawid Malan fell for 32, Robson and Denly both clicked into gear to reach their half centuries and the pair guided Middlesex to 180-1 at lunch.

Denly was outscoring his partner but fell shortly after the break, caught off the bowling of Steve Magoffin to break a stand of 120.

Robson and Adam Voges added another 50 to edge Middlesex narrowly in front but the key was a century partnership for the fourth wicket that took the game away from Sussex.

Supported by Dexter, Robson reached his ton from 183 balls and Middlesex were on 308-3 at the tea interval.

In the evening session, the stand-in skipper was homing in on a half century, having hit four fours and two sixes, but was bowled by Magoffin two runs short.

Middlesex continued to keep the scoreboard ticking along swiftly with John Simpson the latest to keep Robson company as the opener passed 150.

But his six-hour knock, which featured 22 fours and one six, was finally brought to an end when he was bowled by England spinner Panesar, leaving Middlesex on 394-5.

Any fears Robson’s dismissal would spark a lower order collapse proved unfounded, as Gareth Berg added a swift 26 not out from 40 balls in an unbroken fifty partnership with Simpson.

The wicket-keeper will resume on Friday 39 not out and Middlesex will look to further grind Sussex into the dust.

Their hopes of victory were given a further boost early on Thursday morning when Steven Finn, omitted from England’s line-up for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, was given permission to replace Gurjit Sandhu at Hove.

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