After a competitive season in Division One of the Over 70s First Eleven County Championship, in which they won seven of their twelve Championship matches, Middlesex's Over 70s Senior side finished 11th in the league, out of the 24 counties in the competition, narrowly missing out on qualification for the national cup, which the top eight sides qualify for automatically.
The sides finishing in ninth to 16th places, qualify instead for the National Vase competition, which saw Middlesex draw Cambridgeshire in the quarter final knockout quarter final stage.
A century (116) for Simon Bellingham, and half centuries from Fazly Wahab (53) and Mike Stafford (58) saw Middlesex post a commanding total of 359 for 4 in their 40 overs, before dismissing Cambridgeshire for just 227 in reply, with three wickets apiece for Nick Cooke and Steve Maloney doing the damage, as Middlesex powered through to the semi-finals - winning the quarters by an impressive 132 runs.
In the semi-final they faced Worcestershire, where Robert Willis (4 for 31) and Stafford this time with the ball (2 for 34) helped reduce the Pears to a total of 176 for 6 in their allotted 40 overs. In reply, 47 from Simon Battersby, an unbeaten 65* from Yunus Shafi, and an unbeaten 50* from Stafford saw Middlesex home, securing an eight wicket win to seal their place in the final.
The final saw Middlesex going head to head with Suffolk, who had beaten Surrey in the quarters, and rivals Norfolk in the semis, to earn the right to take on Middlesex in the final.
Suffolk made Middlesex work hard in the final, as batting first, Middlesex had to to recover from 45 for 4 at one stage, before a match-saving unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 135 from Daniel Richards and Keith Alexander saw Middlesex to a competitive total of 180 for 4 from their 40 overs - with Richards finishing unbeaten on 75* from 88 balls and Alexander unbeaten on 48* from 63 deliveries.
This gave the bowlers something to defend, and superb figures of 3 for 16 from 8 overs from Shafi and two wickets apiece for Willis (2 for 19) and Stafford (2 for 30) kept the Suffolk charge at bay, restricting them to just 145 in reply, as Middlesex secured a title winning victory by the margin of 35 runs.
It was a fantastic end to an enjoyable and competitive season, and members of the Middlesex Seniors Over 70s squad will have the honour of being presented with their trophy in front of the Lord's Pavilion at lunchtime today, on day two of Middlesex latest County Championship match of the season.
Congratulations to all involved on a successful trophy winning season.
