Durham's Ben McKinney registered his third century of the ongoing County Championship season, scoring 184 against Middlesex in a Division Two clash at Chester-le-Street.
Ben McKinney puts Durham in commanding position against Middlesex
In a knock which comprised 23 fours and a six, McKinney registered his second-highest first-class score of 184 in the second innings. Opening the batting, with Durham holding a first-innings lead of 49, McKinney added 81 for the first wicket with skipper Alex Lees before the latter fell for a 52-ball 37.
The 21-year-old, also among the contenders for England's Test opening spot, then got together with Will Rhodes to add 89 for the second wicket, and completed his third hundred of the season with a handsome backfoot drive off Ryan Higgins towards the end of second day's play.
Durham resumed day three with a 253-run lead, with McKinney batting on 115 alongside Mayank Agarwal, who was later dismissed for 21 off Tom Helm. Higgins soon topped that up by shattering the off-stump of Graham Clarke, with the lead just above 300. McKinney then breached the 150-run mark for the second time this season, and was finally dismissed by Luke Hollman trying to accelerate.
Durham finished their second innings at 374, handing Middlesex a 424-run target. At stumps on the third day, Middlesex were at 55-2, still needing another 369 to win, with Nathan Fernandes and skipper Max Holden batting on scores of three and eight, respectively. Brydon Carse has taken both the wickets to add to a five-wicket haul in the first-innings.
Earlier in the game, Durham posted 252 in the first innings, courtesy an unbeaten 58 from Ben Raine, their No.10 bat. Naavya Sharma and Higgins scalped three wickets each, while Sebastian Morgan bagged four. In response, Middlesex succumbed for 203 following a five-wicket haul from Carse, who registered a County Championship five-for for the first time in five years. Raine also picked up two wickets, while Rhodes and Casey Aldridge came up with one each to help their side secure a lead of 49 runs.
Durham, currently leading the Division Two table, will seal promotion with a victory here.
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