MIDDLESEX DISABILITY D40 SIDE DEFEAT SUSSEX AND MOVE CLOSER TO NATIONAL SEMi-FINALS

MIDDLESEX DISABILITY TRIUMPH OVER SUSSEX IN D40 NATIONAL CLASH AND EDGE CLOSER TO A NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL SPOT

A 49 run victory over Sussex at the weekend at Chiswick CC for Middlesex's National D40 Disability side took them to within one more victory of a place in the National D40 Semi-Finals for the first time in their history.

It's been a year of firsts for Head Coach Michael Wilson's side, who have already beaten the mighty Hampshire for the first time in their history earlier in the D40 campaign. They'll need another first if they are to qualify for the semi-finals, as Essex stand in their way - another side that Middlesex have yet to beat in the D40 format to this point.

With two games remaining, both against Essex, on Sunday 14^th and again on Sunday 28^th July, a win in either game would guarantee Middlesex a place in the D40 National Semi-Finals.

Here's how the side got on against Sussex at the weekend to set up an exciting finish to the campaign, with Ben Mason's five wicket haul the real highlight of the day - as he set another first in becoming the first ever Middlesex Disability bowler to claim a five wicket haul.

Match Report from Sussex clash - Chiswick CC, Sunday 7th July 2019

After a five-week mid-season break in the fixture calendar the Middlesex D40 National team were back in action at Chiswick Cricket Club last weekend, the home of Middlesex disability cricket, where they took on a bottom of the table Sussex side that included several new players.

Just one defeat in the first half of the campaign prior to the mid-season break saw Middlesex return to action high in confidence and looking to build on an impressive start to their National D40 League campaign.

The visitors bowling attack began well and got their breakthrough after just 6 overs with the Middlesex score on 37-1. Wickets fell steadily, with an early flow of runs drying up, as Middlesex reached 95-3 at the halfway stage of their innings. Wickets continued to fall after the drinks break as Middlesex stumbled to 120-6 and in danger of the game slipping away from them. A late order rally saw the home side scramble to 168-8 with some great running between the wickets applying the pressure to the Sussex fielders. Top scorers were Mathew Jones with 31 & Luke Stoner-Lewis with 29.

varied bounce and the pitch offering notable turn the Middlesex bowlers were keen to get at Sussex and made immediate inroads into the visitors’ line-up. After just 4 overs and with only 6 runs on the board the breakthrough came, although this brought Sussex’s most attacking batter to the crease who seemed to revel in having pace on the ball. A change of bowling in the 10^th over earned Middlesex another breakthrough as the second Sussex opener departed with the score on 35-2.

The Sussex run chase picked up pace and runs began flowing freely as a dangerous partnership put the visitors firmly in control. The introduction of Ben Mason into the attack an over before drinks proved to be the game changing moment however as his immediate dismissal of the impressive no.3 Sussex batsman, caught on the boundary by a fantastic catch from Jaidev Charan, saw him go for 52.

A double change saw Chloe Sainsbury come on at the other end and take a wicket with only her second delivery of the spell and the brakes were applied to the Sussex chase as they fell to 99-4.

etween Chloe and Ben, they took the game away from the Sussex team taking 4 wickets in their opening four overs leaving Sussex 107-7 after 25 overs. Both bowlers kept it tight and troubled the batters for the next 5 overs only conceding 8 runs in the process leaving Sussex needing 54 runs off the last 10 overs.

Chloe started the 30th over with Sussex on 115-7 bowling a wicket maiden to reduce visitors to 115-8, with Mathew Jones taking a very impressive catch close to the wicket. Ben continued at the other end to bowl his 7th over, striking with his very first ball of the over to claim his fourth wicket, with just one Sussex wicket remaining.

he next two balls went for boundaries as the Sussex batsman tried to accelerate and hit their way over the winning line, although it was all over on the very next ball as a sharp stumping saw Ben bag his five-wicket haul as Sussex were dismissed for 119.

Before this game Ben hadn’t taken a competitive wicket for the county in the D40 National League and at just 15 years old he clearly has an exciting future ahead of him. This is also the first 5 wicket haul for any Middlesex Disability player in the D40 National League.

Congratulations to Ben on his achievement and to the team on another comprehensive victory.