Middlesex close day three on 553-2 at Northants

Vitality County Championship Division One, Wantage Road (day three)Northamptonshire 552-6 December: Gay 261, Sales 113*Middlesex 553-2: Holden 211*, Du Plooy 196*, Fernandes 103Middlesex (4 pts) leads Northants (3 pts) by one pointScorecard of the match< p class="" data-reactid=".1xn63bnvaga.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.0">Left-hander Fernandes, brought in to replace the injured Sam Robson at the top of the order, hit 103 before his Teammate Max Holden (211 not out) and Leus du Plooy (196 not out) both plundered the bowling with big centuries at Wantage Road, driving the visitors to 553-2 at stumps - a point ahead of their hosts. /p>

Fernandes, who turns 20 later this month, was the first Middlesex player to score first-class debut with a ton since Ted Clark in 1959 and the youngest since Isaac Walker achieved the feat against Surrey almost 100 years earlier.

The Northamptonshire bowlers worked hard batting - friendly conditions, but they were put to the test by Holden - who passed 200 for the first time in his career - and Du Plooy.

It took Fernandes until the sixth run of the morning to increase his overnight score of 65, but the teenager then settled into his stride with a series of elegant shots either side of the wicket.

He reached his century when he pulled a long hop off Rob Keogh to the fence, taking him to exactly 100 off 208 deliveries, but he was on his way shortly after when he mistimed an attempt to paddle a slow Luke Procter bouncer that ballooned to give wicketkeeper Lewis McManus a routine catch.

The Northamptonshire skipper's strike ended a partnership that had yielded 170, but Holden continued to rack up runs, displaying greater attacking intent after lunch in tandem with Du Plooy.

Ben Sanderson whistled the new ball just after Holden's...