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Two in two
By Jeremy Horne August 3 2004
Paul Weekes and Jamie Dalrymple battled through nearly seventy overs between themselves as they span Middlesex to a nail biting 119 run victory over Kent to continue the 'sex's surge up the table. Both spinners took 3 wickets apiece and Simon Cook took 2 as Kent were eventually dismissed for 410.

After Hutton's delayed declaration on day 3, Kent found themselves chasing a daunting 530. Resuming at 137-2, work was still to be done and the remaining Kent top and middle order batsmen set about it admirably, with an initial eye on saving the game. Half centuries from Michael Bevan and Neil O'Brien aswell as a ton from David Fulton and a useful 44 from Alex Loudon saw the visitors reach 340-5 and Middlesex looked desperate for wickets.

The crucial breakthrough did eventually come as Shah's part timers had Loudon trapped infront. Regular wickets then fell as Jamie Dalrymple cleaned the tail up and ensured Middlesex's 2nd consecutive championship victory.

Day 3

Ben Hutton again inspired Middlesex as the Londoners set Kent a tough target of 530 to win. 107 from Hutton lead the way with after Sven Koenig (86) was run out, with vital contributions from Weekes, Dalrymple, Nash and Cook. In reply Kent bounced back from 20/2 to 137/2 but still need 393 runs to win, with 8 wickets in hand.

Day 2

Kent’s batsmen struggled to make an impact as they conceded a first innings deficit of 159 at Southgate. Only Ed Smith (63) and Matt Walker (50no) could make an impact as Glenn McGrath marked his Middlesex championship debut by taking 4-59, with good assistance from Simon Cook and Jamie Dalrymple.

After a slightly disappointing end to the opening day of the Southgate feastival, which saw Middlesex collapse from 285-4 to 351 all out, the bowlers were keen to make amends today. Early dismissals of David Fulton and Michael Carberry, both of whom fell to Simon Cook, made these intentions clear. Smith did manage to hold the bowlers up with a useful half century, but his departure saw wickets fall far too regularly for Kent to make any impact on the Middlesex total.

To add insult to injury, Ben Hutton and Sven Koenig added an unbeaten 162 for the opening wicket as captain Hutton decided not to enforce the follow-on. Koenig remains unbeaten on 86, with Hutton on 72, searching for his 2nd century of the match and his 3rd in 4 championship innings.

Day 1

Stand in skipper Ben Hutton hit a centary today as Middx battled to 351 all out at Southgate against Kent today. He was assisted by Owais Shah (60) and 24 from Glenn McGrath, included two 4s and a 6 in his 21 ball innings. There was still time for 2 overs of the Kent innings both were maidens.

Please click here for the scorecard for this match

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