D40 QUEST (SOUTH)
Venue: William Perkins School, Greenford
Middlesex’s D40 First Eleven made it back-to-back wins to start their 2025 D40 Quest season with a 165-run victory over Sussex at William Perkin School, continuing their terrific start in defence of the title they won for the first time in 2024.
Middlesex were asked to bat first having lost the toss, and it was a positive start from Umesh Valjee who found the boundary twice in the opening over. However his opening partner Naseer Butt was dismissed early for 6.
Valjee was removed shortly after, bowled by Gee for 21, and Middlesex looked to be in trouble when James Nordin and George Greenway were both dismissed in the same over, as Middlesex fell to 54/4 after 14 overs.
Aryan Janjale and Connor Flaunty steadied the ship for the hosts, putting together a 67-run partnership. Janjale bought up his half-century in the 27th over with a boundary. Following the departure of Flaunty for 22, Middlesex’s middle order continued to score quickly, as Craig Fowler and Janjale built a 63-run partnership.
Janjale was eventually dismissed with four overs remaining, as he was stumped by Brown off the bowling of Bunday for 80, bringing an end to a fine knock.
With little time remaining in the innings, Fowler was Joined by Fraser Church at the crease and the pair accelerated to finish the innings well, adding a quickfire 54-run partnership off just 28 balls. Fowler bought up his half-century off just 28 balls, however he was dismissed with the last ball of the innings, bowled by Pyle. Church finished with 33 not out off 17 balls, as Middlesex posted 238/7 in their 40 overs.
Middlesex bowled tightly to start the Sussex innings, keeping the run-rate below three during the opening overs, with the first reward coming to James Nordin in the seventh over, bowling Spence for 7. Nordin continued his fine form from the season’s opening game, where he picked up 7 wickets, and claimed three more wickets in consecutive overs, trapping Brown LBW and bowling Pye and Gee, who all departed for single figure scores.
George Greenway and Sammy Kumar continued to bowl tightly, making it difficult for the visitors to score. Kumar was rewarded for his efforts, trapping Ferguson LBW for 10 off 50 deliveries. New batter Smith had a short stay at the crease as he was run out by Mark Rochester having faced just two balls.
Kumar has his second wicket in his next over when Bunday edged behind to Rochester for 12. Jaidev Charan joined in the action, striking in his first over, bowling Clement for 4. He picked up his second in his next over, removing Loveland for a duck.
Middlesex wrapped up the Sussex chase with 15 overs to go as Kumar picked up his second with Vosloo being caught by George Greenway. Sussex finishing on 73 all out, with Middlesex securing an impressive 165-run victory.
You can view the full scorecard here: https://middlesexdisabled.play-cricket.com/website...
It’s a top of the table clash next up as Middlesex travel to Hartley Wintney to take on an unbeaten Hampshire, who sit alongside Middlesex on two wins from two games, both locked together on 60 points.
