D40 PURSUIT (SOUTH EAST)
Venue: Harlow Town CC
Middlesex D40 second eleven started their 2025 season in perfect fashion, defeating Essex by six wickets at Harlow Town CC.
Essex’s choice to bat first having won the toss looked a good one, as their opening pair of Fryatt and Hazel bought up a 50-run partnership in the 11th over, however shortly after Fraser Church struck, bowling Hazel for 18 with his first ball.
Middlesex bowled tightly, and were rewarded for their hard work soon after, when Connor Flaunty removed opener Fryatt for 41, trapping him LBW. Church picked up his second wicket just three balls later, bowling Issac Elles.
Church and Flaunty continued to bowl well, making it difficult for the Essex batters to score, and with their spells coming to an end, it was the turn of Sunil Sagar and Haroon Rashid to attack. Sagar struck with the third ball of his spell, and Rashid followed up, bowling Mowett with his second ball.
Sagar made quick work of the Essex middle order, striking in three consecutive overs. Tyler Wilson took two wickets in one over, as our hosts were dismissed for 139 inside 32 overs.
Middlesex’s reply was disrupted early on with Jeffry Kan being dismissed early on for a duck, however Simon Lycett and Neil Magdani were able to steady the ship, building a 48-run partnership, before Lycett was bowled in the 14th over.
Middlesex looked to score quickly, with Connor Flaunty and Fraser Church both finding the boundary frequently in their short stays at the crease, scoring 21 and 17 respectively.
However it was the support of Magdani at the other end who worked the Essex bowlers well for his 45 not out, which saw Middlesex over the line with 14 overs to spare, completing a 6-wicket victory.
To view the full scorecard visit: https://middlesexdisabled.play-cricket.com/website/results/6838407
