The Middlesex D40 Second XI clinched the D40 Pursuit South title yesterday, as they beat Surrey by five wickets at Trinity Playing Fields.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Middlesex captain Sue Benson couldn’t have asked for a better performance from her team’s bowling attack and in the field.
Raam Lacmane (6-2-9-1) and Haroon Rashid (5-0-12-0) took the new ball and made the early breakthrough, with Benson taking the first of 7 catches to be claimed in the innings.
Whilst the Surrey batters tried to settle in, runs were at a premium and the pressure eventually told. Neil Magdani (8-5-15-2) was the pick of the bowlers, as he took the next two wickets.
Sunil Sagar (6-1-22-1) claimed the wicket of the Surrey captain, before the batters looked to frustrate the bowlers on a tricky batting pitch.
With Matthew Jones (5-2-15-2) and Ben Mason (6-2-9-1) spinning the ball sideways, wickets kept falling as Middlesex were determined to keep the pressure on, knowing a win would see them clinch the title and head to a showdown against the Northern winners.
After Matthew Dix (4-0-14-1) took the final wicket, Surrey finished on 105/8 from their 40 overs, denying Middlesex the bonus point that would have seen them win the League even in defeat.
The Middlesex batters found the pitch difficult as well, with Ashan Rajasinghe and Benson falling early, but a partnership between Jones (24) and an unbeaten Magdani (42*) settled the innings.
Elliot Brown (9) and Zac Spears (6) both helped nudge the score towards the total required, before Sagar (9*) supported Magdani to get the team over the line.
Middlesex reached the total required five wickets down to secure another victory over Surrey and win the league in style.
Congratulations to all involved in the team this summer. They will now prepare for the national final against the winners of the North Pursuit group, with Yorkshire currently in pole position to secure the North title. Details of the national final will be published as soon as Middlesex’s opponents and a fixture date have been confirmed.
