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Bat's more like it!
By David Slater April 26 2003
Simon Cook's 3 4's helped Middlesex secure a nervous win against Sussex at Lord's today. Chasing 328 things were going well but when Middx lost two wickets things started to get interesting. With 30 runs needed Hutton and Cook carfeully reached the target, pouncing on loose balls to win by 3 wickets
Day Three:
Middlesex produced the best batting spell of the match as they began their pursuit of a large 328 target positively. They closed on 136-2, requiring another 192 for victory.

After bad light had delayed the start, Sussex managed to add 10 runs to their overnight score before Joe Dawes had Jason Lewry caught behind for 8, leaving Middlesex 328 to win. Sven Koenig was then caught behind off the bowling of Lewry early on, to leave us 19-1. It was the openers' 1st real failure of the season. But, some positive cricket from Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah produced a century stand, the 1st for any side in the whole match. The partnership was eventually broken when Kevin Innes trapped Shah lbw with his 2nd ball. Ace will feel disappointed as this turned out to be the last piece of cricket of the day as the players followed him off due to rain.

Middlesex will require a further 192 for victory tomorrow, but with another possible day of bad weather ahead, all three results are still very much possible. If there is play, it will be tough going for the 'sex, with the pitch offering plenty of movement for the Sussex bowlers.

DAY 2:
On another day dominated by the ball, Middlesex are facing defeat following a miserable 1st innings batting collapse that saw us bowled out for 116 after resuming on 79-4. At the close of play, Sussex had reached 194-9 in their 2nd innings, a lead of 317.

DAY 1:
Bowlers dominated play at Lord's today with 14 wickets falling. Paul Weekes proved Tufnel wont be missed taking 3. The highlight was the wicket of Chris Adams who was caught and bowled. Sussex finished on 239. In reply Middlesex were a disapointing 79/4 at the close.

Sussex 1st innings
Montgomerie c Nash b Keegan 20
Goodwin c Shah b Dawes 16
Cottey lbw b Dawes 0
*Adams c & b Weekes 26
Ambrose b Cook 51
Martin-Jenkins c Hutton b Dawes 13
+Prior c Abdur Razzaq b Weekes 11
Innes st Nash b Weekes 15
Mushtaq Ahmed c Nash b Keegan 9
Kirtley not out 20
Lewry c Hutton b Abdur Razzaq 45
Extras 13
Total (all out, 73.1 overs) 239


Middlesex 1st innings:
Strauss c Prior b Kirtley 10
Koenig lbw b Kirtley 43
Shah b Lewry 1
Nash b Martin-Jenkins 17
Cook b Mushtaq Ahmed 5
Joyce lbw b Kirtley 8
Abdur Razzaq lbw b Lewry 3
Weekes run out 0
Hutton lbw b Mushtaq Ahmed 2
Keegan c Prior b Mushtaq Ahmed 8
Dawes not out 3
Extras 16

Total (all out, 48.3 overs) 116


Sussex 2nd innings:
Goodwin lbw b Dawes 23
Montgomerie b Keegan 2
Cottey b Cook 38
Adams lbw b Abdur Razzaq 12
Ambrose lbw b Dawes 35
Martin-Jenkins lbw b Weekes 50
Prior lbw b Keegan 4
Innes c Hutton b Keegan 1
Mushtaq Ahmed c Nash b Keegan 2
Kirtley not out 25
Lewry c Nash b Dawes 8

Extras 4

Total (all out, 62.1 overs) 204


Middlesex 2nd innings: (TARGET- 328)
*Strauss lbw b Kirtley 83
Koenig c Prior b Lewry 7
Shah lbw b Innes 61
+Nash b Mushtaq Ahmed 29
Joyce lbw b Kirtley 49
Abdur Razzaq lbw b Kirtley 11
Weekes lbw b Kirtley 33
Hutton not out 11
Cook not out 22
Extras 24

Total (for 7 wickets, 106.4 overs) 330

Middlesex (17 points) beat Sussex (4 points) by 3 wickets.

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