DAY THREE - RESULT | Middlesex 203 & 193-5 | Sussex 293 & 102
Middlesex 20pts beat Sussex 5pts by 5 wickets
John Simpson and Martin Andersson emerged the heroes for Middlesex as they won a thrilling Bob Willis Trophy encounter against visitors Sussex by five wickets at Radlett.
The redoubtable wicketkeeper and young all-rounder shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 63 to see the hosts to a winning target of 193 in the dying embers of a fluctuating day.
Ollie Robinson (4-50) including a spell of 3-3 in 10 balls had threatened to be the scourge of Middlesex once more, but they were left to rue dropping catches at slip to reprieve both Andersson (27 not out) and Simpson (32 not out) in the dramatic finale.
Earlier in the day, Middlesex stalwart Tim Murtagh (5-34) recorded his 37th 5-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Sussex were hustled out for 102 in their second innings.
Andersson took 3-21 in the collapse, while Simpson held four catches behind the stumps.
Sussex began the day 33-4 in their second innings, a lead of 123, and not out batsmen skipper Ben Brown and Delray Rawlins rapidly increased the advantage with a flurry of early boundaries.
But Murtagh ended the revelry with one which stopped in the pitch causing Rawlins to lob the ball back to the bowler off the leading edge.
Murtagh completed his latest five-wicket haul soon afterwards when Tom Haines edged to Simpson and when Robinson was spectacularly caught by the wicketkeeper down the leg-side, Sussex were 74-7.
It might have been worse had a huge shout for LBW against Jack Carson been upheld when the spinner had made just two, an inside edge presumably saving him from being stone dead.
Brown’s nine fours ensured the visitors scraped their way past 100, but he was one of Andersson’s three victims while Miguel Cummins took 2-45.
Middlesex, needing 193 for victory had two overs to survive before lunch and knocked 17 off that total thanks to a fluent start from Max Holden.
The left-hander and fellow opener Sam Robson continued to accumulate after the break in contrasting fashions.
Holden played nicely, striking five fours, while Robson hung in in somewhat scratchy fashion against probing bowling from Robinson and Mitch Claydon.
The partnership had realised 48 when a game within a game began with Robinson the central character.
The seamer, whose career-best 8-34 Came against Middlesex last season struck Robson near the boot with the former England man playing no shot.
The appeal was huge, but not answered in the affirmative, following which Robinson appeared to make a TV replay gesture. That provoked a meeting between the umpires and skipper Brown and Robinson were spoken too.
A no-ball, one of several from Robinson, only served to get him ticking all the more, but his response was magnificent.
The third ball of his next over lifted on Holden, who appeared to glove it behind. The former England U-19 captain left shaking his head, whether in disappointment at his shot or the verdict was unclear.
One ball later in-form Nick Gubbins joined him after also nicking through to Brown and although Stevie Eskinazi kept out the hat-trick ball Robinson produced a brute of a delivery in the next over which Robson could only fend to Tom Clark at third slip.
Robbie White joined Eskinazi and the two rebuilt either side of a tea interval brought forward by a rain delay, adding 73 before part-time medium pacer Haines made what looked a vital incision trapping White LBW for 35 with 63 still needed.
Before that wicket Robinson had looked weary, but revitalised he trapped Eskinazi (26) to raise Sussex’s hopes once more. It was the 44th wicket claimed by Robinson against the Seaxes in their last five meetings.
It could have proved decisive if Phil Salt had held on to a slip catch offered by Andersson when he’d made just nine, while Finch grassed another nick from Simpson with 25 needed, but Middlesex made it home. Sussex 293 & 102
Middlesex 203 & 193-5
Middlesex 20pts beat Sussex 5pts by 5 wickets
John Simpson and Martin Andersson emerged the heroes for Middlesex as they won a thrilling Bob Willis Trophy encounter against visitors Sussex by five wickets at Radlett.
The redoubtable wicketkeeper and young all-rounder shared an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 63 to see the hosts to a winning target of 193 in the dying embers of a fluctuating day.
Ollie Robinson (4-50) including a spell of 3-3 in 10 balls had threatened to be the scourge of Middlesex once more, but they were left to rue dropping catches at slip to reprieve both Andersson (27 not out) and Simpson (32 not out) in the dramatic finale.
Earlier in the day, Middlesex stalwart Tim Murtagh (5-34) recorded his 37th 5-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Sussex were hustled out for 102 in their second innings.
Andersson took 3-21 in the collapse, while Simpson held four catches behind the stumps.
Sussex began the day 33-4 in their second innings, a lead of 123, and not out batsmen skipper Ben Brown and Delray Rawlins rapidly increased the advantage with a flurry of early boundaries.
But Murtagh ended the revelry with one which stopped in the pitch causing Rawlins to lob the ball back to the bowler off the leading edge.
Murtagh completed his latest five-wicket haul soon afterwards when Tom Haines edged to Simpson and when Robinson was spectacularly caught by the wicketkeeper down the leg-side, Sussex were 74-7.
It might have been worse had a huge shout for LBW against Jack Carson been upheld when the spinner had made just two, an inside edge presumably saving him from being stone dead.
Brown’s nine fours ensured the visitors scraped their way past 100, but he was one of Andersson’s three victims while Miguel Cummins took 2-45.
Middlesex, needing 193 for victory had two overs to survive before lunch and knocked 17 off that total thanks to a fluent start from Max Holden.
The left-hander and fellow opener Sam Robson continued to accumulate after the break in contrasting fashions.
Holden played nicely, striking five fours, while Robson hung in in somewhat scratchy fashion against probing bowling from Robinson and Mitch Claydon.
The partnership had realised 48 when a game within a game began with Robinson the central character.
The seamer, whose career-best 8-34 Came against Middlesex last season struck Robson near the boot with the former England man playing no shot.
The appeal was huge, but not answered in the affirmative, following which Robinson appeared to make a TV replay gesture. That provoked a meeting between the umpires and skipper Brown and Robinson were spoken too.
A no-ball, one of several from Robinson, only served to get him ticking all the more, but his response was magnificent.
The third ball of his next over lifted on Holden, who appeared to glove it behind. The former England U-19 captain left shaking his head, whether in disappointment at his shot or the verdict was unclear.
One ball later in-form Nick Gubbins joined him after also nicking through to Brown and although Stevie Eskinazi kept out the hat-trick ball Robinson produced a brute of a delivery in the next over which Robson could only fend to Tom Clark at third slip.
Robbie White joined Eskinazi and the two rebuilt either side of a tea interval brought forward by a rain delay, adding 73 before part-time medium pacer Haines made what looked a vital incision trapping White LBW for 35 with 63 still needed.
Before that wicket Robinson had looked weary, but revitalised he trapped Eskinazi (26) to raise Sussex’s hopes once more. It was the 44th wicket claimed by Robinson against the Seaxes in their last five meetings.
It could have proved decisive if Phil Salt had held on to a slip catch offered by Andersson when he’d made just nine, while Finch grassed another nick from Simpson with 25 needed, but Middlesex made it home.
DAY THREE - TEA | Middlesex 203 & 102/3 | Sussex 293 & 102
AN ANGRY Ollie Robinson produced a magical spell of 3-3 in 10 balls to leave Middlesex 102-3 at tea on day three and the match very much in the balance.
The England hopeful appeared to receive an official warning for dissent before producing his devastating burst to reduce the hosts to 57-3.
Robbie White and Stevie Eskinazi fought back with an unbroken stand of 45 for the fourth wicket before a rain shower drove the players from the field 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled tea break with Middlesex needing 91 more to win.
The moral of the afternoon seemed to be never make Robinson mad. In the midst of a stint of 10 overs off the reel. The England hopeful saw red mist when a huge appeal for LBW against Sam Robson, who wasn’t playing a shot was turned down.
His fiery reaction saw Robinson and Sussex skipper Ben Brown spoken too by the umpires and an official warning appeared to be issued.
A no-ball, one of several from the seamer only served to heighten his level of steam, but his response was emphatic.
The third ball of his next over saw him produced a lifting ball which Max Holden (28), who had been playing nicely deflected behind.
One ball later the in-form Nick Gubbins was following to the pavilion after he too edged into Brown’s gloves.
And while Stevie Eskinazi survived the hat-trick ball, Robinson produced another spiteful, rising delivery in his next over which Robson could only fend off into the hands of Tom Clark at third slip.
The morning session witnessed a spectacular Sussex collapse, sparked by Tim Murtagh (5-34).
The 39-year-old former Ireland international had bagged three wickets on the second evening and took two more as Sussex slumped from 63-4 to 102 all out.
Brown and Delray Rawlins had opened the day with a flurry of boundaries before Murtagh produced one which appeared to stop in the pitch a little causing Rawlins to get a leading edge back to the bowler.
The 37th 5-wicket haul of Murtagh’s first-class career was then sealed when Tom Haines, batting a seven after his first innings back spasm edged to John Simpson behind the stumps.
Brown tried to hold the innings together with a fluent 45, before becoming the second of three victims for young all-rounder Martin Anderson (3-21) and with Miguel Cummins taking 2-45, Sussex were all out 20 minutes before lunch.
DAY THREE - LUNCH | Middlesex 203 & 17/0 | Sussex 293 & 102
Tim Murtagh returned the 37th 5-wicket haul of his first-class career as Middlesex bowled out Sussex for 102 in their second innings on the third morning of their Bob Willis Trophy encounter at Radlett.
The veteran seamer’s 5-34 came despite a fluent 45 for Sussex skipper Ben Brown and left Middlesex 193 to win.
Openers Max Holden and Sam Robson reduced that to 176 more required in two productive overs before lunch.
Brown and Delray Rawlins opened the day with a flurry of boundaries which looked to have changed the momentum of the match.
However, Murtagh broke through when he got one to stop in the pitch a little and Rawlins (33) sent him a return catch off a leading edge.
Tom Haines, looking looser after his back spasm in the first innings was Murtagh’s next victim, nicking a ball that lifted and left him through to John Simpson.
And when Ollie Robinson gloved one down the leg-side to the keeper off Martin Andersson, the visitors were 74-7.
It may have been worse had Jack Carson been given LBW to Miguel Cummins when he’d made just 2 – the slightest inside edge rescuing him from being stone dead.
He and Brown added 23 crucial runs before the latter slashed at a wide one from Cummins (2-45) and Simpson gobbled up the offering.
The keeper’s fourth catch of the morning saw the end of Carson and the innings closed when last man Will Sheffield edged to Stevie Eskinazi at slip, Andersson (3-21) the bowler on both occasions.
DAY THREE CLOSE -Sussex 293 & 33-4 | Middlesex 203
A devastating late spell from seamer Tim Murtagh fired Middlesex back into contention in their Bob Willis Trophy clash against Sussex at Radlett.
Murtagh grabbed three wickets, including two in two balls – with Miguel Cummins claiming the other – as Sussex crumbled to 4-4 in their second innings, eventually reaching 33-4 at stumps.
That left the visitors holding an overall advantage of 123 after bowling their hosts out for 203 earlier in the day, with teenage off-spinner Jack Carson returning career-best figures of 4-46.
Middlesex had slumped to 80-6 before John Simpson, debutant Blake Cullen and Cummins all rallied with the bat to keep their side within striking distance.
Ollie Robinson (2-56) and Mitch Claydon (3-23) soon had Middlesex on the back foot when the home side began their first innings, taking advantage of morning cloud cover to keep the scoring rate to a minimum.
Claydon sent down four consecutive maidens, while Robinson continued his persistent habit of taking Middlesex wickets as he trapped Sam Robson (2) leg before with his fifth ball of the day.
Max Holden and Nick Gubbins dug in to face a testing examination, with Holden scoring just a solitary run from his first 36 balls, but the opener seemed to have all the hard work behind him when he fell to Sussex debutant Will Sheffield.
The teenage left-armer had Holden (7) caught at first slip and Middlesex were in deeper trouble when skipper Stephen Eskinazi (3) was leg before to Robinson in the next over.
Two further lbw decisions went in Sussex’s favour before lunch – both accompanied by a whiff of controversy as Robbie White (7) fell to a ball from Claydon that looked high and wide and Gubbins (26) was given out to a Carson delivery which seemed to be drifting beyond leg stump.
Carson collected his second wicket early in the afternoon session – pinning Martin Andersson plumb lbw on the back foot after a breezy 17 – but Simpson and Cullen dug their side out of a hole with their seventh-wicket stand of 70.
The Middlesex pair went for their shots, particularly Simpson, who rattled off a string of fours – the best of them a straight drive off Delray Rawlins that raised the 50 partnership.
Simpson’s innings of 48 included nine fours overall before he was eventually dismissed by Claydon, bowling him with a quicker delivery that nipped back from outside off stump.
However, Cullen and Cummins maintained the Middlesex recovery with a spirited partnership of 51, either side of an hour’s delay following a downpour during the tea interval.
Cullen batted with a maturity well beyond his 18 years, occupying the crease for almost two and a half hours for a solid 34, while Cummins counter-attacked with three boundaries in his 25.
The pair secured a batting bonus point before Middlesex’s last three wickets tumbled in rapid succession, with Cullen leg before to Claydon and Carson collecting the scalps of Cummins and Murtagh (0) in the space of three deliveries.
That left Sussex to face an awkward period of 12 overs before the close – and Murtagh struck in the third of them, moving the ball back at Phil Salt (1) to bowl him through the gate.
Murtagh then trapped Harry Finch (2) plumb in front of the stumps and had Tom Clark taken at first slip off an outside edge for a first-ball duck before Cummins had Aaron Thomason lbw, also without scoring, in the next over.
The damage could have been even worse for Sussex, had Robson been able to hang on when Ben Brown offered a slip chance off Cummins – but the skipper (9*) and Delray Rawlins (19*) saw their side through to stumps.
DAY THREE TEA – Middlesex 176-7 | Sussex 293
John Simpson’s belligerent knock of 48 led a Middlesex recovery at Radlett as they reached 176-7 at tea on day two, replying to Sussex’s total of 293.
Simpson’s 64-ball innings, which included nine boundaries, underpinned a seventh-wicket stand of 70 with debutant Blake Cullen, who remained unbeaten on 24 at the interval.
Sussex’s seamers had left the hosts’ top order in disarray as they crawled to 63-5 during the morning session, with the scoring rate stifled by Ollie Robinson and Mitch Claydon.
Robinson removed Sam Robson, lbw for two, in the first over of the day before Max Holden and Nick Gubbins toiled through a testing period in which runs were a rare commodity.
It took Middlesex until the 11th over to find the boundary, with Gubbins steering debutant Will Sheffield through the slips – but the young left-armer soon collected the first wicket of his senior career.
Holden, who had battled hard for his seven runs, edged Sheffield into the hands of Phil Salt at first slip – and Sussex pressed home their advantage with three further wickets in the run-up to lunch.
Robinson claimed his second when Stephen Eskinazi (3) was lbw pushing forward, but there was plenty of room for debate about the leg before decisions that accounted for Robbie White (7) and Gubbins (26).
White was given out to a ball from Claydon that appeared to be missing leg stump – both in terms of width and height – while Gubbins’ dismissal by off-spinner Jack Carson also looked suspiciously as if it might have drifted down the leg side.
However, Middlesex showed little inclination to fold after lunch, with Simpson and Martin Andersson both going for their shots and the latter had rattled up 17 from 18 balls before Carson had him lbw playing back.
But Simpson continued the counter-attack, pulling a short ball from Robinson for four and accruing the majority of his runs through boundaries – the pick of them a straight drive off Delray Rawlins.
Cullen kept him company with some sensible batting against both pace and spin, although he survived one scare when he top-edged a hook off Claydon, but the ball landed safely.
Simpson looked set to register his second half-century of the tournament, only for Claydon to deny him with a quicker ball that found the gap and struck off stump.
Miguel Cummins picked up the baton, though, driving Carson for a couple of boundaries to go to tea at 17 not out and bring Middlesex within sight of a batting bonus point.
DAY TWO LUNCH - Middlesex 63-5 | Sussex 293
Sussex’s Ollie Robinson made an immediate impact on his return to county cricket with two wickets to reduce Middlesex to 63-5 at lunch on day two at Radlett.
Robinson, who was released from England’s Test squad to rejoin Sussex’s Bob Willis Trophy campaign, made the most of overcast conditions to put the visitors firmly on top.
Mitch Claydon, teenage debutant Will Sheffield and spinner Jack Carson were the other wicket-takers as Middlesex’s batsmen, with the exception of Nick Gubbins (26) struggled in reply to the visitors’ total of 293.
Robinson’s fifth ball of the day brought about the initial breakthrough, with Sam Robson (2) failing to get forward sufficiently as he was struck on the pad.
Along with Claydon, who began with four consecutive maidens, Robinson severely restricted the hosts’ scoring rate.
Max Holden (6) was given a particularly rigorous examination, scoring just a single from his first 36 deliveries, but the left-hander ground it out and appeared to be throwing off the shackles when he became Sheffield’s first victim at senior level.
Holden’s edge was comfortably gathered by Phil Salt at first slip, while Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi (3) lasted only 10 balls before he was lbw pushing forward to Robinson.
Robbie White (7) was next to depart, adjudged leg before to a Claydon delivery that looked a touch too high – and Carson struck a major blow when he had Gubbins lbw on the stroke of lunch.
DAY ONE INNINGS & CLOSE - Sussex 293 all out
HARRY Finch’s battling half-century meant Sussex just had the better of an absorbing first day in their Bob Willis Trophy encounter with hosts Middlesex at Radlett.
Finch batted for more than three hours to hit 12 fours in a top score of 69 out of the visitors’ total of 293 all out.
Delray Rawlins weighed in down the order with a run-a-ball 46, but Sussex’s day was marred by a back injury to opener Tom Haines, who returned late in the innings with a runner, but looked in great discomfort.
For Middlesex, there were four wickets for all-rounder Martin Andersson (4-77) and Blake Cullen, making his debut for the county, aged 18, returned figures of 2-51.
The morning session was a story of a missed opportunity for England hopeful Phil Salt.
The Welsh-born opener battled through testing opening overs from Tim Murtagh and Miguel Cummins, surviving a scare when he lifted the former just over the head of the latter at mid-on.
It was the cue for Salt to push on and he produced a gorgeous shot to loft left-arm spinner Walallawita back over his head for a straight six.
Another maximum followed when he pulled a short one from Cullen over the square leg fence, but his good early work was undone when he attempted to hook Andersson’s first ball bouncer and only succeeded in top edging it to Cullen at fine leg to depart for 42.
It proved to be Middlesex’s only success pre-lunch as fellow opener Haines steered the visitors to 80-1 at the interval.
However, Haines hadn’t added to his tally after the resumption when he propped forward to play a defensive shot against Walallawita only to suffer a back spasm. He was briefly treated on the field before heading back to the dressing-room for intensive physio.
His replacement Tom Clark struck two sweet boundaries before becoming the first first-class victim for Cullen, edging a ball which left him off the pitch to a diving John Simpson behind the stumps.
That brought Sussex skipper Ben Brown to the crease, another man who historically has flourished against Middlesex.
He and Finch played nicely through much of the afternoon, each producing some sweet cover drives. They both survived scares, Brown almost turning a ball from Walallawita into the hands of short leg, while Finch drove loosely at Murtagh, the ball flying wide of the grasping hands of Sam Robson at slip.
It was something of a surprise when Brown (26) fell to the last ball before tea, mistiming a short ball from Murtagh (2-41) and spooning the ball gently into the grateful hands of Robbie White at mid-wicket.
Finch found fluency after tea, plundering three fours from one Cummins over as he and new batsman Aaron Thomason raised the 200.
However, it would all end in disappointing fashion for Finch (69) as he fenced at a straight one from Cullen, giving Simpson the simplest of catches.
Aaron Thomason meanwhile had taken 30 balls to get off the mark, but then only made 10 before Andersson pinned him LBW.
Delray Rawlins and Ollie Robinson stabilised matters again with a stand of 35 before Cummins returned to trap the latter LBW to one which looked a little high.
If there was doubt about that Jack Carson was stone dead to the next delivery, but Mitchell Claydon survived a lifting hat-trick ball.
Rawlins cut loose with an enormous six over the old pavilion off Walallawita and three successive fours from the returning Andersson.
The young all-rounder gained revenge when Rawlins holed out to Nick Gubbins on the fence, but his swashbuckling effort had edged Sussex ahead of the game once more.
The limping Haines returned with a runner, but Andersson had Claydon taken at slip before Murtagh scattered Will Sheffield stumps to end a fascinating day.
DAY ONE TEA - Sussex 171/3
Harry Finch led Sussex to 171-3 at tea on the first day of their Bob Willis Trophy encounter with Middlesex at Radlett.
Finch, who made 66 earlier in the tournament was just two shy of a battling half-century after accumulating steadily throughout a gusty afternoon in Hertfordshire.
His efforts came after opener Tom Haines was forced to retire hurt limping away from the action soon after lunch after suffering a back spasm playing a defensive shot against left-arm spinner Thilan Walallawita.
For the hosts there was a debut wicket for teenage seamer Blake Cullen, while the tireless Tim Murtagh got reward for some frugal bowling on the stroke of tea.
The morning session had been a story of a missed opportunity for England hopeful Phil Salt.
The Welsh-born opener battled through testing opening overs from Tim Murtagh and Miguel Cummins, surviving a scare when he lifted the former just over the head of the latter at mid-on.
It was the cue for Salt to push on and he produced a gorgeous shot to loft left-arm spinner Walallawita back over his head for a straight six.
Another maximum followed when he pulled a short one from Cullen over the square leg fence, but his good early work was undone when he attempted to hook Martin Andersson’s first ball bouncer and only succeeded in top edging it to Cullen at fine leg to depart for 42.
Haines, 29 not out at lunch, suffered his injury without adding to his score and success for Cullen came soon afterwards when Tom Clark edged a ball which left him into the gloves of diving wicketkeeper John Simpson.
That brought skipper Ben Brown to the crease and he and Finch shared a stand of 63 courtesy of some beautiful cover drives.
The partnership was though not without the odd alarm. Brown almost turned a bouncing ball into the hands of short leg, the ball pitching just in front, while Finch edged one ball from Murtagh just wide of the grasping hands of Sam Robson at second slip.
The pair looked set to go off for tea with the stand in tact before Brown mistimed a pull off Murtagh and gently lobbed the ball into the hands of Robbie White at mid-wicket.
DAY ONE LUNCH - SUSSEX 80/1
Phil Salt missed a chance to impress the England selectors as Sussex reached 80-1 at lunch on the first day of their Bob Willis Trophy encounter with hosts Middlesex at Radlett.
Salt, still hopeful of a call-up for the T20s and ODIs against Australia next month, looked to have done the hard work by surviving the first hour at Radlett after skipper Ben Brown had won the toss and chosen to bat.
But just as the opener was cutting loose his cavalier style proved his downfall and he fell to all-rounder Martin Andersson’s first ball of the day for 42.
It proved Middlesex’s only success as Tom Haines (29 not out) steered the visitors to the interval without further loss.
Salt and opening partner Haines survived a testing opening spell against the Seaxes in-form new-ball bowling attack of Tim Murtagh and Miguel Cummins, both seamers beating the outside edge.
And Salt survived one scare when his mistimed drive off Murtagh just cleared Cummins at mid-on.
Undeterred, the Welsh-born right-hander accelerated, hitting swashbuckling sixes off first left-arm spinner Thilan Walallawita and then 18-year-old debutant seamer Blake Cullen.
However, an injudicious hook off an Andersson bouncer saw him top edge into the hands of Cullen at fine leg to give Middlesex a much-needed breakthrough.
Sussex included seamer Ollie Robinson in their XI after he was released from the England Test side’s bio-secure bubble at the Ageas Bowl.
Reports provided by ECB Reporters Network
Middlesex
Sussex
