LEICESTER — Ben Geddes marked a career milestone with his maiden first-class century, steering Middlesex into a commanding position against Leicestershire on day two of their County Championship clash at Grace Road.
The 22-year-old, playing just his sixth first-class match, anchored Middlesex’s innings with a composed 134 off 239 balls, forming crucial partnerships with Ryan Higgins (67) and Jayant Yadav (45*) to post a formidable total of 397. Leicestershire, in reply, stumbled to 98/3 by stumps, trailing by 299 runs.
Geddes seizes his moment
Geddes, a product of Surrey’s academy before joining Middlesex in 2022, showcased patience and technique against a disciplined Leicestershire attack. Resuming on 55*, he navigated the morning session cautiously before accelerating after lunch, reaching his hundred with a crisp cover drive off Tom Scriven. "It’s a special feeling," Geddes said. "I’ve worked hard for this, and to contribute to the team’s position makes it even sweeter."
His innings featured:
- 17 boundaries, including three sixes
- A 142-run stand with Higgins for the fifth wicket
- A 91-run partnership with Yadav to frustrate Leicestershire’s bowlers
Sharma’s fiery spell tightens grip
Middlesex’s dominance extended into the evening session as seamer Toby Roland-Jones (2/28) and left-arm spinner Josh De Caires (1/12) struck early. But it was India’s Jayant Yadav who delivered the decisive blow, trapping Leicestershire skipper Lewis Hill (32) lbw with a sharp turner. "The pitch is starting to misbehave," Yadav noted. "We’ll aim for early wickets tomorrow to really squeeze them."
Key moments from Leicestershire’s reply
The hosts’ top order faltered under pressure:
- Roland-Jones removed Sol Budinger (12) with a seaming delivery
- De Caires had Rishi Patel (22) caught at short leg
- Yadav’s dismissal of Hill left Leicestershire reeling at 78/3
Day three: Can Leicestershire recover?
With Peter Handscomb (18*) and Louis Kimber (9*) at the crease, Leicestershire face an uphill battle to avoid follow-on. Middlesex, meanwhile, will look to exploit the wearing pitch. "The cracks are widening," observed Geddes. "If we bowl in partnerships, we can wrap this up quickly."
Weather permitting, Middlesex are firm favorites to secure their second win of the season. Play resumes at 11:00 AM BST, with live coverage on the ECB’s streaming platform.