On Sunday, Middlesex's D40 Second Eleven secured a comprehensive win over Essex Disability to strengthen their position at the top of the table and leaves them needing one more win, from their final fixture, to lift the D40 Pursuit South East League title.
At William Perkin School, visitors Essex won the toss and elected to bowl, although they were soon ruing that decision as Middlesex's batters went aggressively from the off and started to build a formidable total.
An opening partnership of 133 between Naseer Butt and Simon Lycett put Middlesex in a strong position, before Butt was dismissed for a fine knock of 59, bowled by Alfie Jeeves.
Jeeves struck again, but not before the Middlesex total had moved on to 150 for 2, as he accounted for Butt's fellow opener, with Lycett stumped by Law, Essex's keeper, for 57.
From there, Middlesex just kept building, and when Fraser Church was bowled by Issac Elles for 47, the score had moved on to 241 for 3.
Another half-century in the innings, this time an unbeaten 52 from Neil Magdani and an unbeaten 16 from Craig Fowler saw Middlesex's innings come to an end, with 280 on the board for the loss of three wickets from the allotted 40 overs.
In reply, Essex got off to the worst possible start, losing their top four for single figure scores, as Connor Flaunty picked up two wickets, with Magdani and Ben Mason claiming one apiece.
The Middlesex bowlers kept the pressure on, and took regular wickets throughout the chase, with Essex failing to build partnerships at any stage of their run chase.
Mason picked up another wicket to finish with fine figures of 2 for 14 from 5 overs, with Flaunty finishing with figures of 2 for 5 from 5 overs. Fraser Church picked up 3 for 21, whilst Craig Fowler wrapped things up, finishing with figures of 2 for 8 from 3.2 overs, as Essex were bowled out for just 109 in the 33rd over of their reply.
Middlesex used eight bowlers, and the whole side had a good run out, ahead of their one remaining match this season, when they know that victory against Sussex will see them land the South East Division title.
Middlesex sit on top of the group, on 126 points from 5 games played, Surrey trail by just two points, on 124, with Essex on 74 and Sussex without a win on just 19 points.
It promises to be an exciting final match of the season, when Middlesex take on Sussex, with silverware firmly within reach. That game is scheduled to take place on Sunday 14th July.
View the scorecard here.
Middlesex Disability D40 2nd XI
Essex
