By Huzaifa Yousafzai from Merchant Taylors School
Hampshire’s 19 run victory over Middlesex leads them to a third place finish and qualification for an away quarter-final against Leicestershire in the One Day Cup despite being equal on points with two other teams.
Derbyshire’s four wicket victory against Durham means they are level on points alongside both Hampshire and Worcestershire, but an inferior net run rate gives them a fourth place finish and non-qualification for the quarter finals.
Toby Albert’s 75 not out set Middlesex a target of 276 before two crucial wickets from Mohammed Abbas helped Hampshire defend the total during a must-win game in North London.
South African born seamer, Kyle Abbott also starred for the visitors by returning figures of 4 wickets for 48 runs in 9.1 overs along with a quickfire 20 from 16 at the back end of the first innings.
Having been sent in to bat, Fletcha Middleton was the first Hampshire wicket to fall when he edged to Sam Robson at first slip before a quiet powerplay led to the dismissal of Nick Gubbins.
Despite being dropped and a run out not given, Tom Prest was eventually removed when Luke Hollman pinned him on the back pad putting Hampshire on 109 for 3 halfway through the innings.
Ben Brown then reverse swept to Nathan Fernandes at short third before Liam Dawson picked out deep mid-wicket as the pair of middle order batters were dismissed in the forties.
Dom Kelly and Felix Organ both fell to Luke Hollman preceding some late hits from Kyle Abbott and Toby Albert who finished on 75 not out and Hampshire on 276 at the end of the first innings.
Joe Cracknell fell first in the run chase when he was given LBW from the bowling of Abbott before an extremely quiet spell of 10 overs led to Fernandes being caught at mid-wicket.
Following a painful 20 from 49 balls, Sam Robson eventually succumbed to the pressure when he charged down the pitch against Felix Organ only to mistime the shot straight to Prest at deep mid-wicket.
An excellent 90 run partnership for the fourth wicket between Jack Davies and Mark Stoneman came to an end when Mohammed Abbas dismissed both batters caught behind within the space of just a few deliveries.
Following a first innings injury, Ryan Higgins came out to bat with a runner, but it mattered not as Dawson flattened his off stump before doing the same to Josh de Caires a few overs later.
Abbott then returned for a second spell to claim the final three wickets and secure qualification for a One-Day Cup quarter final in the fading light at Merchant Taylors School.
