The Steeler · https://thesteeler.news/matchday/zaib-leads-northants-fightback-but-promotion-hopes-fade-at-lords-147589
Zaib leads Northants fightback but promotion hopes fade at Lord’s
25.09.26, 21:47 Updated 25.09.26, 21:50
Half centuries for Saif Zaib and Ricardo Vasconcelos prolonged Northamptonshire’s dwindling promotion hopes on day two of their final County Championship fixture of the season with Middlesex at Lord’s.
Zaib, given a life on 25, battled his way to an unbeaten 83 while the division’s leading runscorer Vasconcelos made 69 to help the visitors reach 249 for seven by stumps – a slender lead of 97 on a pitch giving some assistance to spin.
Zafar Gohar exploited that turn in the pitch to return three for 57 while Tom Helm’s two wickets with the new ball ensured Middlesex were still on top at the close.
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Jeremy Blackmore is the founder and editor of The Steeler. Jeremy is a freelance cricket writer and Wantage Road regular. He has written extensively for a host of publications including The Cricketer, The Cricket Paper, Wisden Cricket Monthly and ESPNcricinfo. He also covers Northamptonshire for the ECB Reporters Network.
Jon Batham Jon Batham is the co-founder and editor of Up The Middle, a news site dedicated to Middlesex Cricket.