HALL AND MIDDLEBROOK STEADY THE SHIP FOR NORTHANTS by Marcus Hook
Surrey 322 v Northamptonshire 283-7.

The second day at the Kia Oval proved to be one of fluctuating fortunes for both sides. Thanks to a superb display of seam bowling from Tim Linley, Surrey arguably have their noses in front at the halfway stage, but if the South Londoners are to dictate terms they will have to find a means of separating Andrew Hall and James Middlebrook, who have so far put on 120 in 40 overs, a record for Northamptonshire's eighth wicket against Surrey; beating Rob Bailey and Paul Taylor's 117 at Northampton in 1999.

Linley, who has made just 21 first-class appearances since turning out for Oxford University in 2003, and has had spells in second eleven cricket for four different counties, celebrated recently being handed a two-year contract extension by picking up figures of 21-7-38-4.

The course the match was in danger of being altered beyond all recognition when Northants collapsed from 132-2 to 163-7, sparked 45 minutes after lunch when Alex Wakely opted to leave a delivery from Linley that nipped back to flatten his off-stump.

Two overs earlier, Rob White had brought up his fifty in 96 deliveries with a pulled six off Yasir Arafat, before despatching the Pakistan all-rounder to the rope at extra cover. That prompted Hamilton-Brown to bring Linley on at the Vauxhall End. The change worked a treat - four balls later Surrey had the breakthrough they were beginning to crave.

Linley then switched ends, but before he could inflict more damage Stuart Meaker had David Sales nibbling at a short ball to register his fourth championship duck in five visits to the crease against the Oval outfit.

Six deliveries later, Rob White, who had played superbly for his 78 off 136 balls, got a thin inside edge on to his stumps. White was soon to be joined back in the dressing room by Niall O'Brien, who attempted to cover drive a delivery from Linley that swung away appreciably.

With Chaminda Vaas attempting to sweep a well-flighted ball from Batty four overs later, the visitors were well and truly on the ropes going into tea. But then a determined rearguard by Hall and Middlebrook steadied the ship for Northamptonshire.

The eighth wicket pair even saw off second new ball as the pitch was, once again, made to look tailor-made for batting. In the 96th over, Middlebrook brought up the hundred partnership with an on-driven four off Zander de Bruyn. Four overs later, Hall clipped Batty to the boundary at fine leg to post a potentially significant 145-ball half-century.

Earlier, the Northants openers had added 25 to their overnight total when Stephen Peters was trapped leg before by Linley in the twelfth over of the day. In the face of some exacting fast bowling, Mal Loye and Rob White did well to see off the next eighteen overs, but shortly after the introduction of Batty's off-spin, Loye had a rush of blood to the head and was bowled trying to lift the former Worcestershire man into the pavilion.

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