Dawid Malan and Jon Simpson fashioned an impressive fightback for Middlesex after they were reduced to 11-4 early in the afternoon session of day two at Scarborough today.

The fifth-wicket pair took the tea-time score to 122-4 from 42 overs, with Malan resuming this evening on 59 and wicketkeeper Simpson, also a left-hander, on 56.

Ryan Sidebottom struck twice quickly after lunch as Middlesex slipped further from 4-2.

He had Eoin Morgan caught behind for a third duck of the innings with the sixth ball of the session, before getting Paul Stirling caught at third slip by Kane Williamson.

Extravagant swing did the damage from Sidebottom, although no other bowler found anywhere near as much assistance through the air of even off the pitch.