It is not often that during the aftermatch debrief of a Championship game the words, “Well that should set us up for tomorrow’s T20 nicely” are heard.
This was the case, though, at the Ageas Bowl where our 2nd XI pulled off a spectacular win with 3 balls to spare. Paul Stirling with 151 not out set the tempo for the final day as Middlesex pushed the run rate on towards making a sporting declaration with a chance of all 3 results.
Around an hour after lunch the tipping point had been reached and Stirling pulled the visitors out with a lead of 315 with 52 overs left in the day. Hampshire started slowly, undaunted by the required rate of over 6 an over, and had soon passed 100 without loss. As the game reached the last dozen or so overs, Hampshire were definitely in the ascendancy with only just over a run a ball needed and 7 wickets in hand.
Perhaps a mixture of inexperience, surprising for a one day specialising club, and the determination and doggedness of Middlesex (a trait which seems to be in evidence throughout the club this season), meant that the end result was not a surprise, although the timing was certainly tight.
Close: Middlesex 287 & 283-3dec Hampshire 255-8dec & 304 Middlesex win by 11 runs
