MIDDLESEX DISABILITY SUPER 9S SECURE DOUBLE-HEADER WINS AT WEEKEND

MIDDLESEX DISABILITY SUPER 9s SECURE DOUBLE VICTORY OVER HAMPSHIRE

It was a day to remember for Middlesex’s Super 9s squad on Sunday, who played a double-header fixture against Hampshire, consisting of two back-to-back T20 matches – with the Seaxes running out convincing winners in both encounters.

With the opening fixture of the season against Hampshire, which had been scheduled to be played at Chiswick in April, washed out completely by the rain, both counties agreed to play two games on Sunday when the two sides met again.

In the opening T20, Middlesex bowled first, and with ball in hand they got stuck straight into the Hampshire batting line-up.

Shaurya Deshmukh, who was celebrating his 18^th birthday on the day, picked up three Hampshire wickets and finished with figures of 3 for 18. Tight spells from both Anish Regula, who picked up a wicket on his long-awaited debut and finished with 1 for 4, and Waris Baharami 1 for 10, saw the hosts only manage a total of 74 runs in their innings.

In reply, Middlesex made light work of the chase, reaching the victory target inside 10 overs, with Ashan Rajasinghe hitting 28 and Rakim Richmond, 26, the top scorers.

In game two Middlesex again bowled first, and the hosts Hampshire made a better fist of things second time round.

Matthew Dix, making his first appearance back since being out injured was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3 for 12, whilst Matthew Kay (2 for 12) and Deshmukh (1 for 0) both bowling tightly, as Hampshire rached 105 runs in their innings.

Tyler Wilson opened the batting in the run chase, and stepped up to the responsibility, hitting a top scoring knock of 37, with great support again coming from Richmond, who hit a solid 20.

Runs from Ashan Rajasinghe, birthday boy Deshmukh and Regula finished the job off, as Middlesex secured their second win of the day inside 11 overs.

Middlesex returned home with maximum points from both games and are looking good at the top end of the South East group table, with a crunch clash against a strong Essex outfit to come on 7th July.