County Championship: Marcus Harris helps Leicestershire to win over Middlesex

Marcus Harris and Colin Ackermann batted superbly on the final day for Leicestershire

Australia's Marcus Harris scored a brilliant 185 as Leicestershire chased 378 to beat Middlesex by five wickets on the final day.

The 28-year-old struck 21 fours during his remarkable 311-ball knock, sharing 243 with captain Colin Ackermann (126 not out) for the third wicket.

Leicestershire began day four on 75-1, needing 303 more to win, and lost opener Sam Evans early on for 26.

Although Harris fell 52 short of their target, Ackermann guided them to 378-5.

Leicestershire's victory - sealed by Ackermann with fewer than five overs remaining on the final evening - was their first of the summer, allowing them to leapfrog Middlesex at the bottom of Group Two.

Ackermann reached the 18th century of his first-class career just three deliveries after Harris fell, caught behind off Thilan Walallawita.

The hosts then lost Lewis Hill and Harry Swindells cheaply with victory in sight, but Ben Mike joined Ackermann at the crease and the pair completed the chase relatively comfortably.

Leicestershire's third highest ever successful chase leaves Derbyshire and Kent as the only two remaining winless sides in this year's Championship.

Leicestershire top scorer Marcus Harris:

"Once myself and Ackers got to lunch the next objective was to get to tea and so on. There was still something in the pitch but we always felt, if we applied ourselves, we could chase down a big target.

"As I have got older I have tried to relish getting a hundred and make the most of it. I was disappointed not to be out there at the end but it was good to have batted at least the majority of the day.

"If you look at the majority of times chasing a big total like that there is always a little wobble somewhere. It was good that Ackers was still out there, a bit of an older, wiser head. He batted beautifully and you can't ask much more from your captain."

Middlesex skipper Peter Handscomb:

"We probably should have put the game to bed when we batted in our second innings, scored another 50 or 60 to get it over 400 for the chase and make it that little bit harder.

"We had been crying out for a wicket that wasn't doing a lot and we got a chance here. As experienced batters we should be going on and making big hundreds, so it is pretty tough to take.

"The boys are all hurting. We've got ourselves in good positions this season to win nd we just haven't managed to get across the line. But credit to our two spinners, playing only in something like their third or fourth game. They both bowled really well and will take a lot of learnings from this."