SECOND XI FRIENDLY – SUSSEX 2’S VS MIDDLESEX 2’S
CLOSE OF PLAY – DAY THREE
MATCH RESULT – MIDDLESEX WIN BY 10 WICKETS
Middlesex 455/6 dec & 7/0
Sussex 180 all out & 281 all out
With victory looking the most likely result for Middlesex going into the final day, Sussex still needed another 218 runs to ensure Middlesex would have to bat a second time in the match.
Sussex started the day on 57/4, but it did not take Middlesex long before further breakthroughs came their way. Clark and Gilmour were both dismissed in close succession, leaving Sussex on 97/6.
However, a stand of almost 100 between Garton and Beer aided Sussex’s resistance, in which Garton powered his way to a quick-fire 50.
Perera came into the Middlesex attack and found success almost instantly, taking wickets in two consecutive deliveries to see to the end of Garton and then Wood, with Sussex on 192/8.
Another strong partnership, this time between Hooper and Beer, brought Sussex to level scores with Middlesex, before the final two wickets were found almost instantly afterwards, with the final man Beer going for a hard-fought 78.
Middlesex were put into bat again needing just 6 to win, and were able to do so without any losses in just 11 deliveries.
DAY TWO – CLOSE OF PLAY
Middlesex 455/6 dec
Sussex 180 all out & 75/4
After closing in a strong position on day one, Middlesex continued to press on towards a commanding first innings total early on day two.
Charlie Scott and Thilan Walallawita complimented each other well and put on an unbeaten partnership of 94 to help Middlesex to 455/6 by the time they declared. In doing so, Charlie Scott had secured a brilliant century, whilst Walallawita was able to reach 50 before they were called back in.
Sussex did not have the same level of success with the bat, and Middlesex had already claimed 3 wickets by the end of the 20th over. At 57/3, Gilmour and Ward joined forces to put on a partnership of 55 to aid Sussex’s resistance, but once this was thwarted by Kristian Martin, wickets began to tumble.
Sussex were soon 131/8, and Middlesex would have been keen to finish off the tail and put them straight back into bat before the start of day three.
They soon had their wish, and thanks to a superb 5-38 from Kristian Martin Middlesex were able to restrict Sussex to 180 all out.
They enforced the follow on with another 19 overs left in the day, and were able to take a further 4 wickets to make victory all the more likely for Middlesex on the final day.
Sussex closed on 57/4, still 218 runs behind Middlesex’s first innings total.
DAY ONE - CLOSE OF PLAY
Middlesex 339/5
Middlesex Seconds began a three-day friendly against Sussex Seconds today at Horsham Cricket Club on another scorching hot summer’s day.
Middlesex skipper Martin Andersson won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first on what looked to be a great batting surface.
He and Tom Lace duly strode to the crease to open up the innings, although Andersson himself was heading back to the pavilion soon after with only 16 runs on the board, as he was undone by Sakande, bowled for 6.
Jack Davies came in at three and he and Lace set about building a partnership and took the score onto 90 before Davies became the second Middlesex wicket to fall - to the spin of Will Beer for 23.
Joe Cracknell joined Lace in the middle and the pair batted sensibly, putting on 95 runs for the third wicket before Cracknell’s innings came to and for a well worked 61 off 80 balls, with Luke Wells picking up the wicket and George Garton taking the catch.
Lace himself had by now reached his own half-century, although having put on another 24 runs with James Harris was caught by Elliott Hooper off Haines for a patient 67, scored off 179 balls.
Harris was going well and looking good, as he and new partner Charlie Scott then put on the day’s biggest partnership, 91, taking the score to 300, before Harris fell for 66, hit off 116 balls – in doing so becoming the third Middlesex batsman to reach fifty only to depart soon after.
Scott was joined by Savin Perera, and the pair put on 39 for the sixth wicket before stumps were drawn with Middlesex finishing the opening day on 339 for 5.
Scott finished unbeaten on 64 off 127 balls, whilst Perera went in overnight unbeaten 8.
Play will resume at 11am tomorrow morning.
Sussex
Middlesex 2nd XI
