Middlesex’s D40 2nd XI Disability side are now just one step away from emulating the efforts of the D40 1st XI and being crowned National Champions of the D40 Pursuit League.
Last month the D40 1st XI were crowned National Quest Champions, the highest league of domestic disability cricket there is, and already having won the Pursuit Southeast League, the D40 2nd XI made it through to the National knockout stages, where yesterday they faced the Isle of Wight in the semi-final, who had come through as winners of the Southwest League.
Played at Collingham Cricket Club in Nottingham, some three hours from Middlesex, and roughly five hours from the Isle of Wight, the two sides met yesterday in the last four, with North/Midlands winners Cheshire going up against the best placed runner-up from the Pursuit group stages, Surrey, in the other semi-final.
Batting first, the Isle of Wight overcame the loss of two early wickets, which fell to Moazzam Rashid and Haroon Rashid, to build their innings steadily, reaching 73 for 4 at the fifteen overs drinks break, with Fraser Church and Ben Mason picking up the other two wickets. Isle of Wight’s Cooper was providing the glue to the Isle of Wight innings, holding firm at the crease whilst wickets fell around him, and he built a partnership of 81 for the fifth wicket with number six Rodger to take the Isle of Wight score up to 167 for 4 after 30 overs - all set for a late push in the innings with wickets in hand.
Middlesex’s bowlers kept it tight however, and picked up key wickets at crucial times, with the introduction of Naseem Butt proving game-changing, as four late wickets from the Middlesex man applied the brakes to any Isle of Wight charge, as their innings petered out to a total of 203 for 9 from their allotted 40 overs. Butt was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with incredible figures of 4 for 5 from 4 overs.
Cooper, who had earlier retired for 75*, as per the competition regulations, was able to come back in at the fall of the ninth wicket, adding a further twelve runs to his total, finishing with a top-scoring knock of 87* for the Isle of Wight.
In reply, Middlesex too had to recover from the loss of an early wicket, with Butt unable to match his efforts with the ball, bowled by Evans for just a single when only one run had been added in the run chase.
That was to really be the only setback for Middlesex however, as from there they showed their dominance, with both Aryan Janjali and Joe Batten putting the bad ball away with merciless consistency. Drinks were taken after 15 overs of the Middlesex innings and the chase was in great shape, with 108 for 1 the score on the board.
Janjale and Batten kept going, and when the pair both retired at 75* the game was all but won!
Fraser Church at number four fell for 15, with Evans again picking up the wicket, however Neil Magdani held his nerve to see Middlesex over the line, at a canter, with almost eight overs of the innings to spare.
It was a comprehensive victory over the Isle of Wight, and takes Middlesex through to the National Final, where they will face Cheshire, who despatched Surrey comprehensively, beating Middlesex’s London rivals by the huge margin on 111 runs.
Cheshire’s passage through to yesterday’s national semi-final has seen them go unbeaten all season, so they will undoubtedly provide stiff opposition for Middlesex in the Final, which will be played this coming Sunday, 18th August, at Kidderminster Cricket Club.
We wish everyone associated with the D40 2nd XI every success this coming weekend, and we hope you go well in the Final.
Bring it home as national champions!
