Middleton’s maiden ton arms Hampshire victory in rain-hit conflict with Middlesex
Hampshire 238 for five (Middleton 100) beat Middlesex 309 for 7 (Higgins 78, Cracknell 64) by 18 runs (DLS technique)
Fletcha Middleton produced a cultured innings to attain his maiden skilled century as Hampshire opened their Metro Bank One-Day Cup marketing campaign up with an 18-run DLS victory over Middlesex.
Opening batter Middleton caressed precisely 100 to proceed his breakthrough season on the Ageas Bowl – having turn out to be a daily within the LV=Insurance County Championship.
Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest, with 40 and 38 respectively, additionally contributed as Hampshire reached 238 for five of their pursuit of 310 earlier than rain introduced an early finish.
Ryan Higgins had earlier thrashed a 53-ball 78 however Scott Currie’s 3 for 54 held Middlesex to 309 for 7.
Middlesex had been caught in and cruised by way of the powerplay risk-free earlier than Mark Stoneman was undone by some further bounce from Currie to drag out to deep sq..
Joe Cracknell was by no means knowingly uncontrolled as he intelligently rotated strike in stands of 54 with Stoneman, 43 with Sam Robson and 35 with Joe Davies.
His second List A fifty got here in 59 balls which switched his mindset to assault. It resulted in a pulled six, an exquisite one-bounce 4 over mid-off and his downfall – advancing and chipping to brief cowl.
With Davies falling quickly after to make it 156 for 4 within the thirtieth over, it felt like attacking pictures weren’t getting worth and 300 would take some effort. Higgins scoffed at that evaluation.
Higgins hadn’t performed List A cricket since scoring an unbeaten 55 for Gloucestershire towards Australia A in 2019, as a consequence of his participation in The Hundred. He kicked the innings into gear shortly and primarily focused the shorter boundary in his 40-ball half-century. He tonked Dom Kelly over lengthy on twice, hammered Felix Organ over his head and slog-swept Gubbins twice.
The latter introduced up a century stand with John Simpson – who had largely bought out of Higgins’ manner – however subsequent ball Higgins was stunningly caught by 17-year-old Eddie Jack – certainly one of three Hampshire youngsters – and by the tip of the next over Simpson had adopted him again to the dressing room.
Josh de Caires did not final lengthy, as he gave Currie his third, however Luke Hollman’s 17-ball 28 gave the loss of life vitality and easily took Middlesex over 300.
With rain round on the finish of Middlesex’s innings, briefly false-starting the beginning of Hampshire’s and forecast within the space, Middleton and Gubbins stored the DLS par rating in shut focus and masterfully bought themselves forward of it.
Both tried to out do one another on the aesthetics scale with luscious strikes within the V throughout a high-tempo 74-run partnership.
Gubbins fell when he pulled to lengthy off, however Tom Prest maintained the cantering – with aggressive working a key proponent of Hampshire’s success.
Blake Cullen limped off in his fourth over to compound Middlesex’s issues however Prest, having smashed his first six, toed his second try to deep midwicket Robson with Ben Brown following having been bamboozled by a Hollman googly.
Middleton was strong in final 12 months’s competitors however his elevated confidence and maturity was in abundance as he took management of the chase. His first century got here in precisely 100 balls and had showcased each facet of his skill-base – endurance, gap-finding, shot-making with a sprinkle of energy.
Robson’s part-time leg spin was wanted to make up a few of Cullen’s overs. It threatened to show the match round with two wickets in three balls as he had Organ stumped and Middleton caught behind. But rain quickly after noticed Hampshire, who topped their group final 12 months, 18 runs forward on DLS.