Middlesex won by 9 wickets: Notts 136/4 off 16; Middsx 141/1 off 14
Intermittent showers at Edmonton made for a damp start to our match against reigning T20 champs Nottinghamshire, the first in our T20 campaign. Notts had beaten us pretty soundly in last year’s T20 finals, so the Meatballs were eager to bowl them out quickly and economically. Naomi Dattani’s first over completely bamboozled Danni Wyatt. However the Notts openers soon took the upper hand. Wyatt, arguably one of the best T20 batsmen in the country, manipulated our field with ease, scoring a fluent 89* from just 44 balls.
A break for rain saw the overs reduced to 16, making the possibility of achieving their total even more daunting. However, Izzy Westbury’s wicket in her second over upset the Notts' balance and Milly Pope’s new found pace was well executed. Notts. finished on 136-3.
For the Meatballs to reach such a daunting total seemed a mammoth task in just 16 overs.
In stepped the dream team partnership of Natasha Miles and Sophia Dunkley, swiftly raising our heads and our hopes. Both played with freedom and ease achieving the balance between risk and reward. They worked responsibly for every run. Sadly, despite a beautiful innings, Miles was dismissed for 42, so it was up to Dunkley and Fran Wilson to win the match, which they did with a flourish. Having secured her half century , Dunkley cruised to 66* with Wilson 15* . Great credit to our three batters, making a win possible in spite of a fairly poor Middlesex fielding show.
Middlesex won by 10 wickets: Somerset 48ao off 15.4; Middsx 50/0 off 7.5
Having watched Nottinghamshire’s domination of Somerset, with Wyatt once again scoring big, Middlesex were raring to go.
The dangerous Somerset opener Lizelle Lee was dismissed early, caught behind from Dattani’s gun bowling. Another wicket followed shortly, caught by Miles. Somerset were 16 for 2, and another wicket came in quick succession, with Whitty catching an outside edge from Raval’s hooping out-swing.
A fourth wicket, bowled Warren caught Westbury saw Somerset at 17 for 4 after 7 overs.
Three smart catches later and incredibly we had just three wickets to achieve. Danni Warren’s timely throw to Westbury at the bowler's end gave us a run out, leaving Somerset with just two wickets in hand.
Hartley’s mind-boggling bowling led to a stumping and it was left to skipper Westbury to finish off proceedings.
A high catch to Raval at mid off sent Somerset walking, all out for 48.
In went our two openers, Dunkley and Miles, once again working effortlessly to secure our total. Both soon back into the swing and bringing about a victory in just 9 overs.
A fantastic day and a brilliant effort from each and every Meatball, buzzing when we were on top but working equally hard to lift each other's spirits when things were not looking so positive.
Heads firmly up and eyes looking forward to next week's Royal London one-day match against Yorkshire.
