After two games on the road, Middlesex return home for their next two clashes in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, starting with a crucial encounter against Yorkshire tomorrow at Radlett Cricket Club.
We have named a squad of 15 for the crunch clash, which sees us taking on one of two sides currently tied with us at the top of the Group B table.
We return to Radlett having secured back-to-back-to-back victories in our last three encounters, which have taken us to 12 points, equal with both Yorkshire and Somerset at the top of the table, with all three sides locked together on three wins from four matches played, with only net run rate separating the three counties at the summit.
Eight points on the road from two tough games were fantastic reward for some incredible cricket played by Middlesex, in two games that really couldn't have been more contrasting in how they played out.
Against Durham on a flat road of a deck, the batters prospered, as we broke the record for the highest ever successful domestic List-A run chase, overcoming mountains of score board pressure to hit 390 for 5 when chasing Durham's mammoth total, before then coming out on top in a low-scoring thriller yesterday at Rugby School, when we only managed to post 217 in our fifty overs against Warwickshire, before masterfully defending it with a fine display of disciplined and controlled bowling to secure a 28 run win.
The two games showed just what this group of Middlesex players are capable of, with both bat and ball, and the side will be hoping that both disciplines can be executed to perfection again in tomorrow's encounter against the White Rose.
Those two wins on the road set up the next two games at Radlett beautifully, with everything to play for at the halfway stage of the competition, as Middlesex look to push for a place in the knockout stages of the competition.
Tomorrow's opponents, Yorkshire, were the early pace setters in the group, flying out of the traps with three straight wins in their opening three encounters, before coming unstuck last time out against Somerset - who are now the only side to have beaten both Middlesex and Yorkshire in the competition to this point.
Against Warwickshire in their opener, at North Marine Parade in Scarborough, five wickets from seamer Ben Cliff, and two apiece for Matthew Revis and George Hill, saw the Bears rolled for just 137 inside 37 overs, before Imam-ul-Haq's knock of 55 from 83 deliveries saw Yorkshire home to a comfortable victory, knocking off the runs for the loss of five wickets with more than 17 overs of their reply unused.
Next up, against Northamptonshire, away at the County Ground, it was Imam-ul-Haq again who stole the headlines, with his fine knock of 159 off 130 balls setting Yorkshire up for a big total. He was well supported by knocks of 66 off 75 from George Wharton and 69 off 33 from Revis, as the White Rose posted a huge 374 for 5 in their 50 overs. In reply, it was the left-arm spin of Dan Moriarty that did the damage, as his figures of 4 for 38 helped his side dismiss Northamptonshire for just 172 inside 39 overs to secure a massive win for Yorkshire by 202 runs and give themselves a huge boost to their net run rate.
Their third encounter at Clifton Park in York saw Yorkshire come out on top, where they got one over their roses rivals, securing a seven wicket win in the 47th over of their run chase. In reply to Lancashire's total of 294 for 7, it was Imam-ul-Haq again who again did the damage, securing a second consecutive hundred in the competition, hitting a top scoring knock of 117 off 124 balls. He got plenty of support, with Will Luxton's 77 from 63 balls, and two unbeaten knocks of 41 from Wharton and 46 from Revis seeing their side home to victory.
Last time out the White Rose tasted defeat for the first time in the competition, with Somerset running out six wicket winners in a close encounter, again played at Clifton Park. A top scoring run-a-ball knock of 85 from Revis helped his side to a total of 247 in their 50 overs, which they were unable to defend, as Archie Vaughan led the way for Somerset, hitting 95 from 127 balls, before Somerset skipper James Rew got his side over the line in the final over of their chase, to secure a six wicket win for the Wyvern.
The last time the two sides met in the List-A format of the game was two years ago in August 2023, at Radlett, and it was Middlesex who came out on top, winning the encounter by five wickets. A top-scoring knock of 96 off 129 balls from Shan Masood and supporting knocks of 51 off 60 from Revis and 51 off 46 from Dom Bess saw Yorkshire post a total of 253 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Middlesex were always in the chase, and a top-scoring knock of 87 from 65 deliveries from opener Joe Cracknell, and 62 from 61 balls from number three Sam Robson laid the foundation for Middlesex to get over the line with some ease, chasing down victory inside 35 overs to secure a comprehensive victory.
All sights will be firmly set on a repeat of that performance tomorrow, as we look to maintain our winning ways and take a big leap towards qualification for the knockout stages.
However it unfolds, tomorrow's top of the table clash promises to be a gripping encounter from the very first ball, so make sure you're with us at Radlett Cricket Club to witness another crucial Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash.
Middlesex have named the following 15-man squad for tomorrow's clash with Yorkshire:
We hope to see you at Radlett Cricket Club tomorrow at the game, however if you aren't able to make it along in person, then the best way to follow the action is via the Club's live stream of the match, available in the Match Centre on our website or available to watch direct on the Club's YouTube channel.
Middlesex Men
Yorkshire Men
