Middlesex opened up their 2022 Vitality Blast campaign with a comprehensive win over Gloucestershire last night at Radlett Cricket Club, as they secured a 30 run victory in some style.
Losing the toss and being put in, Middlesex skipper, Stephen Eskinazi, led from the front, smashing a match-winning, man-of-the-match performance of 87 off 37 deliveries to lay the foundations for a brilliant Middlesex innings.
His knock, aided by a fine 41 off 24 balls from Eoin Morgan, 27 off 12 balls from Max Holden and 26 off 15 balls from Joe Cracknell took Middlesex to their highest ever total in the competition's twenty year history - 229 for 9.
Ironically, having hit 89 for the loss of just one wicket in the powerplay overs, and with the scoreboard showing 133 for 2 at the halfway stage of their innings, Middlesex were disappointed with the total, as such a strong start could, and arguably should, have seen them post a total way in excess of 250.
That said, with ball in hand, they defended admirably on a lightning quick outfield, as wickets were shared around amongst the bowlers. The stand out was Martin Andersson, with 3 for 33 from his 4 overs, with both Luke Hollman and Blake Cullen picking up a brace of Gloucestershire victims.
All in all it was a solid and really impressive start to Middlesex's Blast campaign this year, and they'll be looking to match those levels tonight in Southampton where they'll face Hampshire - always a tough white-ball opponent on any day.
The Ageas Bowl has not been a happy T20 hunting ground for Middlesex in recent seasons, with the Seaxes last winning there in 2016, so Richard Johnson's side will have to be at their very best to continue their outstanding unbeaten start to the 2022 season. Anything like the performance they delivered last night at Radlett will make them a very hard side to beat.
Johnson makes just one change to his squad tonight, an enforced one, as Eoin Morgan steps aside for tonight's clash, being replaced by young Josh De Caires. All twelve others who were named in the squad to face Gloucestershire last night deservedly retain their places.
Middlesex's thirteen man squad to face Hampshire is as follows:
Stephen Eskinazi (captain)
Martin Andersson
Joe Cracknell
Blake Cullen
Jack Davies
Josh De Caires
Toby Greatwood
Chris Green
Max Holden
Luke Hollman
Toby Roland-Jones
John Simpson (wk)
Thilan Walallawita
Hampshire Hawks
Middlesex
