A stellar bowling performance from Zafar Gohar secured a 35-run win for Middlesex in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Lords, to send them back to the top of Group B.
After electing to bat first, it was the opening partnership between Nathan Fernandes and Josh de Caires that dominated the first powerplay with Middlesex racing to 70/0 in the opening 10 overs.
That partnership though, was broken just an over later after De Caires departed for 42 followed by Fernandes a couple of overs later for 25, Ben Cliff has his second in the over removing Aaryan Sawant for a duck four balls later.
The 23rd over saw the end of the skipper as he was caught behind for 19 off Jack White. Joe Cracknell fell shortly before the halfway stage when was caught on the boundary for 21.
Jack Nelson and Zafar Gohar consolidated the innings over the next 10 overs, with their partnership surpassing 50, with Nelson picking up his maiden Lisa A half-century in just his second senior innings in the 39th over. Their partnership ended on 94 when Gohar was caught off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav for 25.
Toby Roland-Jones was the next to go after being trapped LBW by George Hill for one, followed by Nelson who’s superb innings was brought to an end when he was caught on 76.
Noah Cornwell was bowled in the 47th over for 9 before Naaya Sharma also fell to the same fate for one, setting Yorkshire a target of 248 for victory.
Middlesex started their defence brilliantly with two wickets in the opening three overs, Adam Lyth was caught behind off the bowling of Sharma for one and Roland-Jones bowled William Luxton for nine.
The 22nd over saw Yorkshire surpass 100 however but also saw the third and fourth wickets for Middlesex as James Warton was stumped off Gohar for 40, ending his 85-run partnership with Will Bennison. and Sam Whiteman was bowled for a golden duck.
The wickets kept coming for the home side as George Hill was trapped LBW for a duck by Noah Cornwell, and Zafar Gohar claimed his fourth Finley Bean was caught behind for one.
Just after the halfway point of the Yorkshire innings Will Bennison picked up his first senior half-century with a six over mid-wicket.
Zafar Gohar then picked up the crucial wicket of Bennison who was bowled for 63 in the 36th over.
Kuldeep Yadav was the next to depart, chipping the ball straight to Geddes off the bowling of Cornwell for 15.
Just a couple of overs later, Cornwell was able to get Benjamin Cliff for 3, but a late fightback from Dom Bess got him past his 50 and gave Yorkshire a glimpse of hope before being caught off the bowling of Tom Helm to secure victory for Middlesex.
Middlesex Men
Yorkshire Men
