6pm – Close. Middlesex have reached 441-5 from 151 overs, with Higgins 117 and Hollman 21. They trail by 160, but are only 11 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. Bess excellent with 4-168 from a marathon 64 overs. Higgins finishes with an impressive 117 not out.
5.50pm – We have 10 minutes to go in the day. Middlesex are 436-5 from 148 overs. They need 16 more to avoid the follow-on. Higgins 112, Hollman 21.
5.20pm – Higgins reaches his hundred with a six over long-on off Moriarty, 185 balls with 13x4s. He’s also just reached 1,000 Championship runs for the season. Well played. Middlesex 420-5 in the 140th. They need 32 more to avoid the follow-on.
4.51pm – WICKET! Davies caught at slip by Lyth off Bess, 61, leaving Middlesex at 391-5 in the 133rd over. They need to reach 452 to avoid the follow-on.
4.42pm – Middlesex are 382-4 in the 130th over. Higgins 82 and Davies 59. They’ve shared 119 for the fifth wicket.
4.26pm – Davies reaches his fifty off 104 balls with 8x4s. Middlesex are 370-4 in the 125th over.
4.23pm – Middlesex 364-4 in the 124th over. Higgins 78, Davies 45. Thompson and Coad in tandem at present. The visitors trail by 237.
4.05pm – All set for the start of the evening session. Middlesex 349-4 after 120 overs. Higgins 68 and Davies 40. They need 103 more to avoid the follow-on. Coad returns to the attack.
3.42pm – Tea. Middlesex have reached the break at 349-4 from 120 overs, replying to our 601-6 declared. They need to reach 452 to avoid the follow-on. Higgins 68, Davies 40.
3.14pm – Higgins reaches his fifty off 116 balls with 7x4s. Middlesex are 327-4 in the 114th over. Davies 35.
3.06pm – Joe Root, you superstar! History maker. He has just scored his 34th Test century, the most by an England batter. His 102 not out is his second in the ongoing match against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. England, at 249-8, lead by 480. Many congratulations Rooty!
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Joe Root celebrates a century for Yorkshire against Glamorgan earlier this season.
3pm – We’re through 110 overs, and Middlesex are 321-4. That means they take 2 batting points and Yorkshire 1 bowling point. In the whole match, Yorkshire have taken 5 to Middlesex’s 3.
2.39pm – We’re into the closing stages of the pursuit of bonus points. Middlesex are 301-4 after 104 overs. They need 49 runs in six overs for another point, we need two wickets. Higgins 44, Davies 18. The visitors are 300 behind now.
2.04pm – WICKET! Du Plooy caught at short cover for 36 off Coad. It’s 263-4 in the 93rd over. Middlesex need to reach 452 to avoid the follow-on. A slower ball, low full toss does the trick. Du Plooy miscues to Bess.
1.47pm – Coad into the attack to bowl alongside Bess. Middlesex 253-3 after 88 overs.
1.46pm – We’re up and running after lunch, with Middlesex 253-3 in the 88th over, bowled by Bess. Du Plooy 28, Higgins 22.
1.02pm – Lunch. Middlesex have reached 248-3 from 87 overs, and they are 353 runs behind. Two wickets in the session, both to Bess, who has all three. Du Plooy 23, Higgins 22. Yorkshire have bowled 37 overs in the session.
12.46pm – Bess is bowling with the new ball now. Middlesex 224-3 in the 82nd over.
12.42pm – Yorkshire have delayed taking the new ball. Lyth is on now. Middlesex 216-3 in the 81st over. Du Plooy 11, Higgins 2.
12.27pm – WICKET! Robson trapped lbw by one which shoots through from Bess for an excellent 108. Middlesex 207-3 in the 76th, and that’s a bonus point for Yorkshire.
12.18pm – Middlesex are 201-2 in the 73rd over, and Yorkshire will get the new ball just before lunch if they want it. Handy time as they could have a quick burst with the seamers either side of lunch. Mind you, wouldn’t discount the spinners taking it either. The pitch does seem to be a bit more challenging today. Plenty of near misses so far.
12.03pm – Robson has reached his hundred off 195 balls. He’s 101 not out out of 190-2 after 67 overs.
11.53am – WICKET! Holden caught behind off Bess, 51. Middlesex are 182-2 in the 64th over. Du Plooy in now.
11.45am – Holden reaches his fifty off 139 balls, and Middlesex are 175-1 in the 62nd over. Robson has 88.
11.39am – Middlesex 171-1 after 60 overs. Robson 86 and Holden 48. Hill and Bess in operation now.
11.12am – Middlesex 144-1 after 53 overs, three bowled this morning. Incidentally, lovely to see a couple of sun hats being worn in the field. Proper old-school feel. Bairstow and Bean are both wearing them.
11.06am – Bess sharing the early morning bowling duties after a Thompson maiden. Middlesex 141-1 after 51. Robson on strike on 65.
11.01am – We’re all set for the start of day three. Middlesex will resume on 141-1 in reply to our first-innings 601-6 declared. Thompson will bowl to Holden, who has 39. Robson with him on 65.
10.17am – In the other game which impacts Yorkshire – and Middlesex, for that matter – Division Two leaders Sussex are ahead of the game against Derbyshire at the halfway stage at Hove. Derbyshire are 178-6 in their first-innings reply to Sussex’s 607-8 declared.
8.30am – Good morning from Headingley, where once again the sun is shining. There is a bit of a chill in the air to start the day, however.
We have another full day in prospect for day three, which Middlesex will begin on 141-1 replying to Yorkshire’s first-innings 601-6 declared. Dom Bess claimed the only visiting wicket to fall yesterday.
In all, only two wickets fell in the day – one on either side.
Yorkshire are aiming to bowl Middlesex out before they pass the follow-on target of 451. If they don’t, you feel like the game will be a near certain draw.
Given the placid nature of the pitch, added to the Kookaburra ball being in use, setting Middlesex any kind of day four target would be a dangerous game given the promotion race picture and how tights things are at the top.
George Hill and Jonny Bairstow completed big hundreds yesterday – 169 not out and 160 respectively.
Both of Hill’s 150 plus scores in first-class cricket – his first being 151 in the early 2022 draw against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road – have been unbeaten.
You can read Hill’s thoughts below on his return to form following a difficult summer with the bat. Our day two match report is also linked below.
We will be racing through the overs today, with two spinners in operation for much of it no doubt. We will probably pass the 100 overs in the day mark, which we reached yesterday.
As ever, there’s a live stream available via the Match Centre tab at the top of the page. Enjoy the day.
