The first day of the new season got underway at Hove with Sussex taking on Middlesex, with Sussex winning the toss and sticking Middlesex in, and after an hours delay we got underway. It only took 13 balls for a wicket to falls, Chris Rogers skewing the ball from Magoffin to Stef Piolet at gully to go for 4. Sam Robson and Dawid Malan then fought for 11 overs in seamy conditions, Malan dropped at cover off Anyon, and they took the score to 36 before Robson had a swish at one from Anyon to be caught behind by Ben Brown for 11, 36-2.
After lunch there was a classic Middlesex collapse up there with the very best as Neil Dexter edged Jon Lewis to Brown for 6, and next ball Eoin Morgan's return to the red ball didn't last as Lewis found some huge inswing to detonate two stumps first ball. Adam Rossington survived the hat trick, but four overs later and Malan finally fell edging Lewis to Joyce for 35. Lewis then took his fourth of a crushing spell as Rossington had a feeble waft through to Brown for 8, 73-6. At the other end, things weren't getting any easier as Ashar Zaidi struck first ball, clipping the top of James Harris's off stump for six, before Tim Murtagh tried to hit a six, only to find Matt Prior about 10 yards in from the midwicket fence, 86-9 and 100 looking a mile off. At least Toby Roland-Jones and Steve Finn showed some fight, lasting for 30 minutes, with Roland-Jones pulling Piolet for four to take the score to 99, then taking one from the same shot to bring up an unlikely team 100, Finn swung a four off Zaidi, but Roland-Jones lost his off stump to Magoffin for 17 to end the innings on 105 and tea, Lewis finishing with 4-34 and Magoffin 3-21.
After tea Middlesex needed quick wickets, and Ed Joyce was promptly bowled by Murtagh for 12, then Luke Wells edged to gully for a slow four before Mike Yardy got a tight LBW go against him for Murtagh's second on 17 as Sussex slumped to 42-3. This brought in Matt Prior, out of form and looking for runs, on comes Finn, short ball, Prior misreads it and hits it straight into the air down to long leg where Roland-Jones is waiting, he dived, and spilled the ball, a catch that would have made the day somewhat better, as Roland-Jones got hit for a couple of boundaries himself as bad light ended the day with Sussex 86-3 after 20.3 overs, looking set for a good total to start the season.
Showing posts with label sussex. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sussex. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Saturday, 3 August 2013
Plenty To Wright About
The final day of Middlesex vs Sussex at Lord's began with Sussex 228-4 still needing 49 to make Middlesex bat again, with Ed Joyce and Luke Wright looking to bat the home side out of the game. Wright soon reached his 50 from 93 balls as Middlesex turned to Ollie Rayner's spin early in the day to look for a wicket. Wright picked off boundaries, while Joyce steadily accumulated, but it was 2 short of his hundred that Tim Murtagh found some movement with the new ball, where an edge was well taken low by Rayner at slip, breaking the partnership of 159 at 282-5 which had put Sussex in with the chance of a draw.
James Harris soon had Ben Brown out, caught by London at point as the batsman froze on his shot, and Murtagh then had Chris Jordan caught behind for 3 as Sussex slumped to 304-7, a small lead just after lunch, without much more batting to come. Will Beer joined Wright in what became the key partnership of the day, with Wright having no troubles playing the bowlers, hitting some awesome cuts and cover drives, and it was in the 101st over from his 179th ball, that he completed his first 100 in 2 years, driving Toby Roland-Jones to the cover boundary.
The bowlers began to tire mid way through the afternoon, and the batsmen were quite happy to pick runs off where they could and Sussex raced from 350 to 400 in seven overs as Harris and Joe Denly came in for some punishment. It was shortly after completing the 100 partnership that Beer fell, caught at leg slip by Berg off Rayner for 39, and Middlesex still had a small chance, if they could knock off the last 2 quickly at 405-8. It wasn't to be that easy, as Wright completed his first 150 with a cover drive off Rayner (226 balls, 19 fours) as he and Magoffin looked to take some time out of the game to push the required rate up for Middlesex. After six overs of plodding along, Wright then took 23 off the next two to move past 180, and brought up the 450 by clubbing a full toss from Denly over midwicket for four. He wouldn't reach his deserved double ton, charging down the track to Denly, who got one to turn past the edge for Simpson to complete an easy stumping. It had been a great innings, 187 from 276 balls with 25 fours. Magoffin didn't hang around much longer, swinging Denly to Murtagh in the deep as Sussex were all out for 454, leaving Middlesex with needing 179 in 20 overs.
Rogers and Denly opened and decided to have a go for the runs, and they pounded 23 off the first 3 overs, Denly lifting Magoffin for an easy boundary over midwicket, so Sussex moved to having all nine outfielders on the boundary, and Denly promptly edged Chris Liddle, where Brown took a good diving catch, 24-1. Dexter then got a big edge which flew high off Magoffin to Brown's right, where he jumped, stuck out a hand and landed with the ball in it, a ridiculously good catch to remove Dexter for four. Rogers at the other end was scoring at a run a ball, and found the boundary with a backfoot-lean-uppercut-jab that went over the keepers head for four. But the chase was soon off as Liddle called on his one day experience to trap Berg LBW for 5 at 50-3, the game called off as a draw, Middlesex with 10 points, Sussex with 5.
James Harris soon had Ben Brown out, caught by London at point as the batsman froze on his shot, and Murtagh then had Chris Jordan caught behind for 3 as Sussex slumped to 304-7, a small lead just after lunch, without much more batting to come. Will Beer joined Wright in what became the key partnership of the day, with Wright having no troubles playing the bowlers, hitting some awesome cuts and cover drives, and it was in the 101st over from his 179th ball, that he completed his first 100 in 2 years, driving Toby Roland-Jones to the cover boundary.
The bowlers began to tire mid way through the afternoon, and the batsmen were quite happy to pick runs off where they could and Sussex raced from 350 to 400 in seven overs as Harris and Joe Denly came in for some punishment. It was shortly after completing the 100 partnership that Beer fell, caught at leg slip by Berg off Rayner for 39, and Middlesex still had a small chance, if they could knock off the last 2 quickly at 405-8. It wasn't to be that easy, as Wright completed his first 150 with a cover drive off Rayner (226 balls, 19 fours) as he and Magoffin looked to take some time out of the game to push the required rate up for Middlesex. After six overs of plodding along, Wright then took 23 off the next two to move past 180, and brought up the 450 by clubbing a full toss from Denly over midwicket for four. He wouldn't reach his deserved double ton, charging down the track to Denly, who got one to turn past the edge for Simpson to complete an easy stumping. It had been a great innings, 187 from 276 balls with 25 fours. Magoffin didn't hang around much longer, swinging Denly to Murtagh in the deep as Sussex were all out for 454, leaving Middlesex with needing 179 in 20 overs.
Rogers and Denly opened and decided to have a go for the runs, and they pounded 23 off the first 3 overs, Denly lifting Magoffin for an easy boundary over midwicket, so Sussex moved to having all nine outfielders on the boundary, and Denly promptly edged Chris Liddle, where Brown took a good diving catch, 24-1. Dexter then got a big edge which flew high off Magoffin to Brown's right, where he jumped, stuck out a hand and landed with the ball in it, a ridiculously good catch to remove Dexter for four. Rogers at the other end was scoring at a run a ball, and found the boundary with a backfoot-lean-uppercut-jab that went over the keepers head for four. But the chase was soon off as Liddle called on his one day experience to trap Berg LBW for 5 at 50-3, the game called off as a draw, Middlesex with 10 points, Sussex with 5.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Beer Sloshes Over Essex
The 2nd game of the t20 double header was the "main" game of Essex vs Sussex. Essex won the toss and decided to bat first.
Mark Pettini and James Franklin came out to bat, and Luke Wright went for nine from the first over. Sussex then removed Pettini, caught by Chris Nash off Amjad Khan for 1, 16-1. Graham Napier was promoted to 3 as the pitch looked placid and runs were there for the taking, but, even though Franklin took consecutive fours off Naved Arif, Essex struggled to get on top. Franklin had his stumps scattered by Chris Liddle's first ball for 25 and Napier was lucky to be dropped by keeper Ben Brown off Mike Yardy after running round to a top edge, waving off the bowler, then grassing the chance.
Napier then merrily swung Liddle out of the ground next over, and followed it up with another four, as along with Ryan Ten Doeschate, Essex were 66-2 at the halfway point. Yardy's third over began quietly before Napier came on strike third ball, which disappeared over midwicket for six, next up, a four, then a no-ball, which meant a free hit, played from deep in the crease by Napier, and hammered over point for four. Suddenly 17 had come off the over, but Napier then went for another huge swing over midwicket, finding the top edge and Brown redeemed himself, clinging on to the chance this time, 83-3.
Essex edged ahead in the game again, as 13 came from Yardy's last over and 11 from Will Beer's 2nd over as Ten Doeschate hit both of them for six, before he then fell to Wright, well held by Liddle for 39 from 27, 118-4 with five overs to go.
James Foster and Adam Wheater then added the quick runs at the end, well Foster did, Wheater had 5 from 12, but Foster looked in great form. Consecutive sixes came off as Beer free flowed around around the ground (more jokes like that later) then four and six off Khan as Foster looked good while Wheater failed to get the ball off the square.
Foster went to his 50 from 26 balls, thumping Liddle for another six before scrambling another 11 to finish with a career best 65 from 31, Essex finished 177-4, 59 from the last five overs making a tough but gettable chase for Sussex.
The chase was on from ball one as Nash dumped Tim Phillips over long on for four, as he and Wright went about the chase in quick style, 14 and 9 coming off the 2nd and 4th overs from David Masters before Wright went after Phillips, going six (down the ground), four, four to take Sussex to 58-0 after the powerplay, bang on target to make the runs. Reece Topley then got blasted by Wright high over midwicket out of the ground, before coming back in his next over to get Nash, skying to Franklin at deep square leg for 31, which was quickly followed by Wright in the next over going for a big swing straight to Greg Smith at long off for 46. 88-2 at the halway point, ahead of Essex, but they had the good finish. Matt Prior started quickly and he hit Franklin for 12 in his only over, including another massive six over midwicket and into the construction site.
Greg Smith then went the same way as Franklin, four, six from his first two balls, as Sussex raced to 114-2 after 12. Prior then fell, caught by Phillips off Topley for 35 from 18 balls, 59 needed from 42, but a tight over from Phillips swung it back to Essex, then Murray Goodwin and Joe Gatting hammered 15 from Ten Doeschate's third over, including a flat six into the covered seats at cover leaving 31 to get from 24.
Napier then went into yorker mode, first one went past Foster for 4 byes, but the next crashed into Goodwin's off stump. Then Greg Smith (now bowling off spin) went for only 6 from the 18th and finished by bowling Yardy off the inside edge for 4. 17 from 12 became 13 from 8 as Gatting was bowled by another excellent yorker from Napier for 22 from 18. Beer managed to get a three to bring it down to 10 off the final over.
Foster decided to let Ten Doeschate bowl it, and Beer found the low full tosses easy enough to consecutive twos, before finding the square boundary, before levelling the scores with a single. Brown was then left with the easy task of crashing the ball to the cover boundary with the field up to win the game by six wickets with one ball remaining, despite Napier taking 2-25 from his four overs. Wright was awarded man of the match, as Sussex moved clear at the top of the table over Essex in 2nd.
Mark Pettini and James Franklin came out to bat, and Luke Wright went for nine from the first over. Sussex then removed Pettini, caught by Chris Nash off Amjad Khan for 1, 16-1. Graham Napier was promoted to 3 as the pitch looked placid and runs were there for the taking, but, even though Franklin took consecutive fours off Naved Arif, Essex struggled to get on top. Franklin had his stumps scattered by Chris Liddle's first ball for 25 and Napier was lucky to be dropped by keeper Ben Brown off Mike Yardy after running round to a top edge, waving off the bowler, then grassing the chance.
Napier then merrily swung Liddle out of the ground next over, and followed it up with another four, as along with Ryan Ten Doeschate, Essex were 66-2 at the halfway point. Yardy's third over began quietly before Napier came on strike third ball, which disappeared over midwicket for six, next up, a four, then a no-ball, which meant a free hit, played from deep in the crease by Napier, and hammered over point for four. Suddenly 17 had come off the over, but Napier then went for another huge swing over midwicket, finding the top edge and Brown redeemed himself, clinging on to the chance this time, 83-3.
Essex edged ahead in the game again, as 13 came from Yardy's last over and 11 from Will Beer's 2nd over as Ten Doeschate hit both of them for six, before he then fell to Wright, well held by Liddle for 39 from 27, 118-4 with five overs to go.
James Foster and Adam Wheater then added the quick runs at the end, well Foster did, Wheater had 5 from 12, but Foster looked in great form. Consecutive sixes came off as Beer free flowed around around the ground (more jokes like that later) then four and six off Khan as Foster looked good while Wheater failed to get the ball off the square.
Foster went to his 50 from 26 balls, thumping Liddle for another six before scrambling another 11 to finish with a career best 65 from 31, Essex finished 177-4, 59 from the last five overs making a tough but gettable chase for Sussex.
The chase was on from ball one as Nash dumped Tim Phillips over long on for four, as he and Wright went about the chase in quick style, 14 and 9 coming off the 2nd and 4th overs from David Masters before Wright went after Phillips, going six (down the ground), four, four to take Sussex to 58-0 after the powerplay, bang on target to make the runs. Reece Topley then got blasted by Wright high over midwicket out of the ground, before coming back in his next over to get Nash, skying to Franklin at deep square leg for 31, which was quickly followed by Wright in the next over going for a big swing straight to Greg Smith at long off for 46. 88-2 at the halway point, ahead of Essex, but they had the good finish. Matt Prior started quickly and he hit Franklin for 12 in his only over, including another massive six over midwicket and into the construction site.
Greg Smith then went the same way as Franklin, four, six from his first two balls, as Sussex raced to 114-2 after 12. Prior then fell, caught by Phillips off Topley for 35 from 18 balls, 59 needed from 42, but a tight over from Phillips swung it back to Essex, then Murray Goodwin and Joe Gatting hammered 15 from Ten Doeschate's third over, including a flat six into the covered seats at cover leaving 31 to get from 24.
Napier then went into yorker mode, first one went past Foster for 4 byes, but the next crashed into Goodwin's off stump. Then Greg Smith (now bowling off spin) went for only 6 from the 18th and finished by bowling Yardy off the inside edge for 4. 17 from 12 became 13 from 8 as Gatting was bowled by another excellent yorker from Napier for 22 from 18. Beer managed to get a three to bring it down to 10 off the final over.
Foster decided to let Ten Doeschate bowl it, and Beer found the low full tosses easy enough to consecutive twos, before finding the square boundary, before levelling the scores with a single. Brown was then left with the easy task of crashing the ball to the cover boundary with the field up to win the game by six wickets with one ball remaining, despite Napier taking 2-25 from his four overs. Wright was awarded man of the match, as Sussex moved clear at the top of the table over Essex in 2nd.
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Sussex Sunk
The final day of Middlesex vs Sussex at Lord's, with Sussex 34-1 in their 2nd innings, still needing another 174 to avoid an innings defeat.
Steve Finn opened from the Pavilion End with a hostile spell, Chris Nash inside edging a four, only to be bowled next ball, 58-2. Murray Goodwin has failed so far this year to score many runs, and he promptly poked Finn to Ollie Rayner at slip for 5. Joe Gatting and Mike Yardy then saw off Finn and Tim Murtagh, but Gareth Berg struck almost immediately, Gatting LBW for 18. Luke Wright now joined captain Yardy in having to bat until almost tea to try and save the game, Toby Roland-Jones having a strong LBW shout turned down against Yardy. The pair brought up the 100, only for a couple of dumb shots cost them any chance they still had in the game. First, Wright (13) went for a booming drive through the covers, only for the edge to fly to a diving Finn at gully. Then, 4 balls later, Yardy pulled a short ball from Roland-Jones straight to Eoin Morgan at deep square leg for 10, one of the two men placed there for the obvious ploy. That moment of madness left Sussex 101-6, with Ben Brown and Naved Arif seeing out the time until lunch, 102-6.
After lunch there was a seven over period before Sussex scored a run and when the did Arif edged a cut to Morgan at gully who spilt a relatively easy catch. The pair had their moments of luck, Arif even headed a Berg bouncer, but wickets weren't forthcoming as Brown played some good strokes as he had in the 1st innings and showed that there really was nothing wrong with the pitch. The fifty partnership then came up as the batsmen started to get more expansive, Brown thumping a cover drive off Rayner.
Arif finally fished at an outswinger from Berg and was well caught low down by Dawid Malan diving at first slip on 15, 164-7 after adding 63 in 25 overs. Sussex had tended to lose wickets in batches, and after another booming cover drive off Rayner to go to 50 from 83 balls, his 2nd of the game, Chris Rogers moved himself to a very short cover so Brown attempted a reverse sweep next ball, only for it to bounce off his glove to Berg at slip to fall for 53, 170-8 now. The return of Finn couldn't get another before tea with Sussex 191-8, 17 behind, James Anyon and Steve Magoffin surviving.
After tea, Rogers made the smart move of replacing Rayner with Malan at the nursery end, and the batsmen couldn't resist going for a hit against his leg-breaks. Magoffin having one keep low and miss his leg stump. Anyon edged Finn for four, before hitting four more to level the scores in the match. Magoffin then swung Malan for a colossal six flat into the back row of the Mound Stand. Four more to the Grand Stand boundary and an upper cut off Finn and soon the pair had added 50 in 12 overs. Magoffin then went for one hit too many, skying to Roland-Jones at deep mid-on to fall for 37 off 54, 223-9. Monty Panesar (0) then went for a Viv Richards-esque swing over midwicket, only to find Finn and give Malan his 2nd (2-19) as Sussex finished 225 all out, Anyon 13*, Finn 3-66, Berg 3-53, Rayner 1-12 with Middlesex needing 18 to win off 29 overs.
Gatting and Nash opened the bowling as Sam Robson and Rogers made light work of the of the win, Robson (10) driving Nash for four to win by 10 wickets at 4:40 their 3rd win of the year, shoring up 4th place in the table for now.
Steve Finn opened from the Pavilion End with a hostile spell, Chris Nash inside edging a four, only to be bowled next ball, 58-2. Murray Goodwin has failed so far this year to score many runs, and he promptly poked Finn to Ollie Rayner at slip for 5. Joe Gatting and Mike Yardy then saw off Finn and Tim Murtagh, but Gareth Berg struck almost immediately, Gatting LBW for 18. Luke Wright now joined captain Yardy in having to bat until almost tea to try and save the game, Toby Roland-Jones having a strong LBW shout turned down against Yardy. The pair brought up the 100, only for a couple of dumb shots cost them any chance they still had in the game. First, Wright (13) went for a booming drive through the covers, only for the edge to fly to a diving Finn at gully. Then, 4 balls later, Yardy pulled a short ball from Roland-Jones straight to Eoin Morgan at deep square leg for 10, one of the two men placed there for the obvious ploy. That moment of madness left Sussex 101-6, with Ben Brown and Naved Arif seeing out the time until lunch, 102-6.
After lunch there was a seven over period before Sussex scored a run and when the did Arif edged a cut to Morgan at gully who spilt a relatively easy catch. The pair had their moments of luck, Arif even headed a Berg bouncer, but wickets weren't forthcoming as Brown played some good strokes as he had in the 1st innings and showed that there really was nothing wrong with the pitch. The fifty partnership then came up as the batsmen started to get more expansive, Brown thumping a cover drive off Rayner.
Arif finally fished at an outswinger from Berg and was well caught low down by Dawid Malan diving at first slip on 15, 164-7 after adding 63 in 25 overs. Sussex had tended to lose wickets in batches, and after another booming cover drive off Rayner to go to 50 from 83 balls, his 2nd of the game, Chris Rogers moved himself to a very short cover so Brown attempted a reverse sweep next ball, only for it to bounce off his glove to Berg at slip to fall for 53, 170-8 now. The return of Finn couldn't get another before tea with Sussex 191-8, 17 behind, James Anyon and Steve Magoffin surviving.
After tea, Rogers made the smart move of replacing Rayner with Malan at the nursery end, and the batsmen couldn't resist going for a hit against his leg-breaks. Magoffin having one keep low and miss his leg stump. Anyon edged Finn for four, before hitting four more to level the scores in the match. Magoffin then swung Malan for a colossal six flat into the back row of the Mound Stand. Four more to the Grand Stand boundary and an upper cut off Finn and soon the pair had added 50 in 12 overs. Magoffin then went for one hit too many, skying to Roland-Jones at deep mid-on to fall for 37 off 54, 223-9. Monty Panesar (0) then went for a Viv Richards-esque swing over midwicket, only to find Finn and give Malan his 2nd (2-19) as Sussex finished 225 all out, Anyon 13*, Finn 3-66, Berg 3-53, Rayner 1-12 with Middlesex needing 18 to win off 29 overs.
Gatting and Nash opened the bowling as Sam Robson and Rogers made light work of the of the win, Robson (10) driving Nash for four to win by 10 wickets at 4:40 their 3rd win of the year, shoring up 4th place in the table for now.
Friday, 14 October 2011
If Only...
The final match report of the year for the final CB40 group match of the year as Middlesex take on Sussex at Lord's on the August Bank Holiday. The battle of the top two in the group with only the group winner to qualify for the final, which would be Sussex unless Middlesex utterly destroyed them.
Sussex won the toss and batted and Ed Joyce and Chris Nash then proceeded to hammer along against an attack with some key players rested. Anthony Ireland went for 23 in his first two overs as Sussex reached 47 after 6 overs with Toby Roland-Jones and the lesser spotted Robbie Williams stemming the tide only slightly although the bowling powerplay only went for 21, Nash swinging Williams for 6 in the process and reaching 50 off 38 balls whilst Joyce played more carefully as they had added 90 in 14 overs when Nash went for one shot too many off Jamie Dalrymple and was bowled for 57. Lou Vincent came in and he and Joyce scored steadily as the total pushed along. Joyce passed 50 off 64 before swinging one from Dawid Malan to Sam Robson at long on for 54, 149-2 after 25.
Middlesex needed more wickets to stop Sussex posting 270+ and Murray Goodwin started quickly, only to top edge a ball that rolled onto his stumps from the economical Tom Smith (8-0-22-1) for 18, 178-3. Next over Vincent holed out off Dalrymple to Williams for 42 when he looked ready to up the run rate, 184-4. Captain Mike yardy and Joe Gatting then added 38 in the batting powerplay and 14 off the last two overs even though Gatting was caught by Scott Newman at midwicket off Roland-Jones for 26 o ff the penultimate ball. Sussex finished 239-5 leaving Middlesex a chase that they would feel they had a chance with. Dalrymple was the best bowler, with 2-41.
Malan and Robson opened the batting and they made steady progress, going along at five an over against Amjad Khan and Chris Liddle, reaching 43 after 8 overs. Crunching fours were mixed with smart play as both batsmen showed off a bit, Robson late cutting one over the slips for 4 and Malan smacking a big six off Monty Panesar. Sussex's day was summed up when Khan on the boundary let one through his legs for 4. The 100 partnership came up after 16 overs. Malan reached 50 off 48 balls and Robson off 53 balls. Middlesex weren't blasting it, but were edging nearer the target without losing wickets. Malan also passed 500 runs for the tournament. 153-0 after 25 overs and a crack at the first wicket record looked on as Malan, looking for his 2nd hundred of the year, edged Wayne Parnell to Ben Brown to fall for 84 (off 84!). Next over, Robson's maiden List A 50 ended when he was bowled by Yardy for 65, 157-2.
Paul Stirling and Chris Rogers then endured a tough few overs, Rogers almost being bowled before they cut loose and flayed the bowling around, Stirling hitting Panesar for another huge six into the Mound Stand in the 29th over. Yardy then bought back Parnell for the 33rd over, which promptly disappeared for 19, Stirling effortlessly flicking the ball into the Mound Stand again before Rogers walloped one to the vacant midwicket area. 213-2 and Middlesex were almost there with Nash and Gatting on to bowl, Sussex weren't expecting to win now. Nash did have Rogers LBW for 37, a partnership of 72 off 57, 229-3. Bit this didn't stop Stirling, who hit Gatting into the Mound Stand again, before driving a single off Nash to finish 46* off 29 and to win the match by 7 wickets with 17 balls left. The win, whilst impressive meant Sussex still qualified top with their superior net run rate but Middlesex could be happy to end this part of their season on a high before getting back to the important business of winning championship promotion.
Sussex won the toss and batted and Ed Joyce and Chris Nash then proceeded to hammer along against an attack with some key players rested. Anthony Ireland went for 23 in his first two overs as Sussex reached 47 after 6 overs with Toby Roland-Jones and the lesser spotted Robbie Williams stemming the tide only slightly although the bowling powerplay only went for 21, Nash swinging Williams for 6 in the process and reaching 50 off 38 balls whilst Joyce played more carefully as they had added 90 in 14 overs when Nash went for one shot too many off Jamie Dalrymple and was bowled for 57. Lou Vincent came in and he and Joyce scored steadily as the total pushed along. Joyce passed 50 off 64 before swinging one from Dawid Malan to Sam Robson at long on for 54, 149-2 after 25.
Middlesex needed more wickets to stop Sussex posting 270+ and Murray Goodwin started quickly, only to top edge a ball that rolled onto his stumps from the economical Tom Smith (8-0-22-1) for 18, 178-3. Next over Vincent holed out off Dalrymple to Williams for 42 when he looked ready to up the run rate, 184-4. Captain Mike yardy and Joe Gatting then added 38 in the batting powerplay and 14 off the last two overs even though Gatting was caught by Scott Newman at midwicket off Roland-Jones for 26 o ff the penultimate ball. Sussex finished 239-5 leaving Middlesex a chase that they would feel they had a chance with. Dalrymple was the best bowler, with 2-41.
Malan and Robson opened the batting and they made steady progress, going along at five an over against Amjad Khan and Chris Liddle, reaching 43 after 8 overs. Crunching fours were mixed with smart play as both batsmen showed off a bit, Robson late cutting one over the slips for 4 and Malan smacking a big six off Monty Panesar. Sussex's day was summed up when Khan on the boundary let one through his legs for 4. The 100 partnership came up after 16 overs. Malan reached 50 off 48 balls and Robson off 53 balls. Middlesex weren't blasting it, but were edging nearer the target without losing wickets. Malan also passed 500 runs for the tournament. 153-0 after 25 overs and a crack at the first wicket record looked on as Malan, looking for his 2nd hundred of the year, edged Wayne Parnell to Ben Brown to fall for 84 (off 84!). Next over, Robson's maiden List A 50 ended when he was bowled by Yardy for 65, 157-2.
Paul Stirling and Chris Rogers then endured a tough few overs, Rogers almost being bowled before they cut loose and flayed the bowling around, Stirling hitting Panesar for another huge six into the Mound Stand in the 29th over. Yardy then bought back Parnell for the 33rd over, which promptly disappeared for 19, Stirling effortlessly flicking the ball into the Mound Stand again before Rogers walloped one to the vacant midwicket area. 213-2 and Middlesex were almost there with Nash and Gatting on to bowl, Sussex weren't expecting to win now. Nash did have Rogers LBW for 37, a partnership of 72 off 57, 229-3. Bit this didn't stop Stirling, who hit Gatting into the Mound Stand again, before driving a single off Nash to finish 46* off 29 and to win the match by 7 wickets with 17 balls left. The win, whilst impressive meant Sussex still qualified top with their superior net run rate but Middlesex could be happy to end this part of their season on a high before getting back to the important business of winning championship promotion.
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