Match Centre

SUSSEX SHARKS WOMEN V MIDDLESEX WOMEN | MATCH REPORT

Middlesex Women made it eight wins from eight in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup yesterday, with a comprehensive 179-run victory over Sussex Sharks at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove.

Issy Routledge and Artemis Downer led the way with the bat, putting on a record first-wicket List A partnership of 181 for Middlesex Women, before both fell agonisingly short of centuries. A rapid half-century from skipper Saskia Horley ensured the innings finished with momentum, Middlesex posting 320/5 – their second-highest total of the season.

With the ball, Layla Judge and Anaya Patel claimed three wickets apiece, Hannah Davis added two, while Lauren Turner and Routledge took one each, as Sussex were dismissed for 141 inside 41 overs. With semi-final qualification already secured, this result confirmed a top-two finish and, therefore, guaranteed Middlesex a home semi-final on Sunday 7th September.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Downer and Routledge laid a solid platform. The pair advanced steadily to 49/0 after the first powerplay, and by the halfway stage the score had reached 118/0, both openers bringing up fifties in quick succession – Routledge registering her first of the competition from 63 balls, and Downer following one ball later from 79.

The stand continued to grow until the 36th over, when Downer was caught by Chiara Green off the bowling of Ava Lee for 81. Lee struck again shortly after, bowling Routledge for an excellent 95.

Mia Rogers and Horley then kept the tempo high, adding 34 for the third wicket. Rogers contributed a lively 35 from 28 balls before falling to Anna Lewis, but Horley pressed on with Riva Pindoria to accelerate towards the close.

Horley raced to her second successive half-century, reaching the mark from just 28 balls in the final over, before Sonali Patel hit the final two deliveries to the rope to take Middlesex to a commanding 320/5 – a total that would have required a record chase in the competition.

Sussex began positively, scoring 10 runs off the opening over, but Turner soon made the breakthrough, bowling Phoebe Wilkinson for 2. New-ball partner Sonali Patel maintained tight control, conceding just 10 from her five-over spell, while Judge removed the other opener, Izzy Collis, for 14.

Davis then made her mark, Turner taking the catch to dismiss Daisy Mullan for 20 as Sussex reached 68/3 at the 20-over mark. From there Middlesex turned the screw. Davis claimed a brilliant caught-and-bowled to remove Nancy Harman, before Anaya Patel took three quick wickets, including two almost identical catches behind by Olivia Kibler.

At 88/7 after 30 overs, Sussex showed resistance through Ava Lee and Indigo Gentry, who produced a steady partnership. Davis wrapped up her 10 overs with outstanding figures of 2/20, but it was Routledge who made the breakthrough in her first over, as Horley took the catch to dismiss Lee for 24.

Judge returned to bowl Anna Buckle with a lethal delivery to leave the hosts 133/9 after 39 overs. She then went on to seal the victory, trapping Gentry lbw for 23 as Sussex were bowled out for 141 in the 41st over, handing Middlesex a dominant 179-run win.

The result stretches Middlesex’s lead at the top of the table to five points, ahead of Glamorgan and Northamptonshire, who are level in second and third. We have just one group game remaining before discovering our semi-final opponents. As things stand, Middlesex would face the fourth-placed side, currently Yorkshire, although they sit only narrowly ahead of Worcestershire on net run rate. Fittingly, we meet Worcestershire next week as we return home to Merchant Taylors’ School.

It would be fantastic to see as many supporters there as possible, cheering the team on as they look to complete a perfect unbeaten group stage and head into another semi-final full of momentum.