Nic Pothas was an early wicket soon after Crawley was crucially dropped by Hutton at 2^nd slip. Sean Ervine led the recovery with Crawley with a stand of 101 for the second wicket in 22 overs, ended only when Ervine was run out after a mix up and being sent back by Crawley.

Creepy went on to make a painstaking 92 before being caught at the wicket by Ben Scott off Chris Peploe. It needed Dimitri Mascarenhas to apply the acceleration in the final 5 overs who finished with an unbeaten 40 to help Hampshire reach a defendable 227 on a slow wicket with long boundaries and a slow outfield.

‘Sex made a poor start losing Weekes in the first over and Ed Smith out soon after. However Shah and James Dalrymple put on 139 in only 20 overs for the third wicket, with Ace severe on Hants bowling keeping ‘Sex well above run rate. This partnership looked like setting Middlesex an easy win. when Dalrymple was caught at slip by Greg Lamb for 57  and ‘Sex suddenly began to struggle.

When Hutton was out to Lamb ( My” Hutton dressed as Lamb” joke wore thin at this stage ) as their “part time”  bowler ended up  with 3 for 24 from his 9 overs. Ace was closing in on a century when he lost his composure and was caught in the deep of Tremlett. At this stage, Tremlett was struggling (perhaps effected that ‘Sex Stuart Clark has more chance in playing in these Ashes than him.)

It was a tense finish , but Mel Betts confidently drove Tremlett through the covers for four (yes!) and then Peploe straight drove Mascarenhas for another four  (Yes!) , creeped us through post in a tight game.

Middlesex now well set for 2^nd place, as Hants who paraded their C&G trophy at end of match are in relegation trouble in Tote Sport Division 1.

Please click here for the scorecard for this match

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes