Essex (207 & 123-5) need 176 runs to beat Middlesex (302 & 203)
MIDDLESEX moved to within touching distance of securing victory with Essex needing 176 runs to win on the final day at Chelmsford and only five wickets spare to do it.
The visitors looked on course to secure their first LV County Championship win of the season after reducing the hosts to 123-5 in their second innings as they attempted to chase down a victory target of 299 at the County Ground.
Alastair Cook and Jason Gallian had given Essex a real chance of chasing down that total with a first-wicket partnership of 70 in 15 overs.
But then the game started to swing in Middlesex's favour as Cook was trapped LBW by Vernon Philander, before Gallian, who had reached 40 was snaffled at first slip, although the ball from Tim Murtagh appeared to have come off his arm guard.
Spinner Shaun Udal then took centre stage as he struck twice in the same over to remove Tom Westley captain Mark Pettini.
That left Essex reeling at 84-4
Ryan ten Doeschate was the next to go, while only on 18.
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That saw Tony Palladino join Varun Chopra at the crease to play out the remaining four overs of the day.
Earlier in the day the visitors had recovered from their own batting problems.
Having returned on 19-3, Middlesex then enjoyed a mid-order revival.
Wicketkeeper David Nash was the pick of the batting order with an unbeaten 50, even using Andrew Strauss as a runner because of a hamstring strain.
Eoin Morgan (25), Philander (20) and Mutagh (42) also made valuable contributions with the willow as Middlesex battled to 203 before tea.
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