Phil Hughes hits heights as Ashes loom
Australia's Phil Hughes fell just five short of a double century for Middlesex today as he fired an Ashes warning with his biggest score since moving to England.
Middlesex have been criticised for signing the 20-year-old on a six‑week deal to start the season, with fears it would help him adapt to the conditions in England ahead of this summer's Test series.
Those concerns have been vindicated as Hughes added 61 to his overnight score against Surrey at The Brit Oval before he was caught by wicket-keeper Jonathan Batty off a Jade Dernbach delivery.
Hughes now has hit three centuries in as many Division Two County Championship games, making 118 against Glamorgan and 139 against Leicestershire.
County Championship — Div 1 Trent Bridge: Somerset 138 & 349-8, Notts 261. Hove: Durham 380 & 30-0, Sussex 363. Edgbaston: Yorks 600-8 dec, Warwicks 205-7.
New Road: Worcs 167 & 301-4, Lancs 347. Div 2 — Bristol: Leics 133 & 63-0, Gloucs 393. Canterbury: Kent 282 & 143-2, Glamorgan 307. Northampton: Essex 221 & 215-5, Northants 354. Brit Oval: Surrey 388, Middlesex 354-4.
