The Middlesex Disability D40 First XI secured their second win of the D40 Quest season on Sunday, making it two away victories from two.
Returning to action after a month away, the D40 First XI were straight back into their winning ways as they made the long trip to Lisvane CC, just outside Cardiff, to face Wales.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, Middlesex got off to a tricky start with openers Zak Spears and Luke Stoner-Lewis both being dismissed cheaply. Captain James Nordin came in at three, and after a quick flurry of boundaries, was bowled for 13.
Some tight bowling meant that the middle order had to dig deep. Sam Kumar, who top scored with 19, showed determination to keep his wicket, took the score past 50 with support from Sue Benson (16).
With wickets falling at regular intervals it was difficult for the Middlesex batters to form a partnership, with Kumar and Benson’s 38 proving to be the highest of the match.
Jai Charan (15) hit three boundaries to take the score into three figures, before Middlesex were all out with 101 on the board, after 32.4 overs.
Nordin and Charan shared the new ball as the Wales openers found it equally as difficult to score runs. Nordin made the breakthrough by bowling the Welsh batter, and followed it up two balls later with his second wicket of the game.
After that came the best partnership of the day, with Kumar and Matthew Jones bowling exceptionally well together. Wales were looking to score the runs they needed for victory, but Kumar and Jones proved too strong for them.
Between them they shared eight wickets for just 27 runs, both taking 4 wickets each. Every wicket was either LBW or bowled, with the exception of the ninth, which was caught by Benson off the bowling of Kumar.
The final six wickets came for ten runs as Middlesex claimed an emphatic 38 run victory, with Jones finishing on 4 for 17 and Kumar taking 4 for 10.
The D40 First XI are next in action on 19 June when they host Hampshire, who have also won their first two games of the season, at William Perkin School.
You can see the scorecard here.
