County Championship: Emilio Gay makes 261 for Northants against Middlesex

Emilio Gay was congratulated by his Northants team-mates as he left the field

Emilio Gay and James Sales set new landmarks as Northamptonshire continued to dominate on day two of their County Championship Division Two game with Middlesex at Wantage Road.

First day centurion Gay forged on to post 261 - the highest ever individual Championship score for the county against Middlesex, while Sales - brought back into the side for this game - made his maiden first-class hundred.

The pair set a new fifth wicket record against their opponents of 181, before the hosts declared on 552-6, making it another chastening afternoon for Middlesex - who conceded 620 in the first innings against Glamorgan last week.

There was still time in the evening session for two young debutants to make an impression, Raphael Weatherall capturing his maiden first-class wicket, while Middlesex teenager Nathan Fernandes (65 not out) reached an impressive half-century before stumps were drawn with the visitors 128-1, still 424 in arrears.

After Rob Keogh had departed, Gay and Sales embarked on their record stand.

Gay eclipsed Stephen Peters' record score against Middlesex at Wantage Road, 183 set in 2010 and when he reached his first double hundred he took Peters' record of the highest ever score against Middlesex of 199 made in that same summer.

Josh De Caires gave him a reprieve almost immediately afterwards, failing to hold on to a tough caught and bowled opportunity.

Sales reached 50 from 109 balls and the hundred stand came up by lunch, as Middlesex rattled through 22 overs in the second hour's play to rectify a previously negative over-rate.

Gay was granted a second life soon after the resumption when Ethan Bamber failed to hold a tougher caught and bowled.

The record fifth-wicket stand against Middlesex of 131 between David Capel and Nigel Felton set at Lord's in 1989 was soon eclipsed and it was a surprise when Gay's innings was ended via a run out. Sales later scampered a single to reach three figures.

The declaration came soon afterwards and Weatherall's golden moment came after tea when he found the edge of Mark Stoneman's bat.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.