County Championship: Emilio Gay hits century for Durham at Middlesex

Emilio Gay and David Bedingham rewrote the record books for the second week running, both hitting centuries, as Durham seized a healthy first-innings lead on day three against Middlesex at Lord’s.

Gay, an articulate, quietly spoken left-hander, is not so much whispering as hollering “pick me” to England head coach Brendon McCullum, who should be able to hear him all the way from New Zealand, after a cultured 129, albeit on a featherbed surface at the home of cricket, scene of the first Test against New Zealand starting a month on Monday.

Bedingham’s own century (147) was more muscular as he and Gay surpassed Durham’s previous best third-wicket partnership record against their respective opponents for the second time in less than a week.

There was agony though for Kasey Aldridge who was pinned lbw one short of what would have been his first century for the county following his winter move from Somerset. He was one of four victims for the excellent Ryan Higgins (4-99) continuing his fine match after his first innings century

Gay’s audition for what, given Zak Crawley’s indifferent county form, looks an increasingly vacant opener’s spot against the Kiwis showed just about all of what a discerning selector would want to see.

The previous evening the 26-year-old had bristled aggression, raising his 50 at more than a run a ball, showcasing an array of shots which suggested he could play Bazball, assuming that remains a thing.

Here on the third day he was elegant, composed but at the same time showed he could adopt a plan B, content to play second fiddle to Bedingham following the early loss of team-mate and potential rival for a Test call-up, Ben McKinney caught behind off Higgins for 58.

Gay worked the ball around entirely unflustered and although he was in the 90s for a while there was never a hint of nervousness. A steer down to third took him to the milestone, his first hundred at Lord’s and his 13th in first-class cricket – nothing unlucky about it.

Bedingham was all business from the start, crunching Eathan Bosch through mid-off for four before clubbing slow left-armer Zafar Gofar over the rope at deep mid-on.

The onslaught continued after lunch as Gohar was thumped back over his head for six, the host’s attack never able to emulate the more miserly bowling of the visitors over the first day and a half.

Bedingham’s hundred came in 131 balls as the pair surpassed the previous third-wicket record against Middlesex of 150, set by Australian Martin Love and Jonathan Lewis at Lord’s in 2002.

Fatigue as much as anything separated them in the end, Gay’s attempt to reverse sweep Josh De Caires resulting in the loss of his off stump.

Neither Graham Clark or Ollie Robinson stayed long, briefly raising the spirits of the toiling Middlesex bowlers.

Bedingham though found another ally in Aldridge, the pair adding 89 either side of tea, one cover drive in particular from the latter seeing him hold the pose for the cameras.

The former Somerset all-rounder moved to 50, before a tiring Bedingham fell with his 150 in sight, lofting Gohar to deep mid-off.

Ben Raine weighed in with a breezy 33 before Aldridge, who had twice charged De Caires before lofting him straight to the fence, saw his moment of glory snatched away in the evening sunshine.

Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.