Clydesdale Bank 40: Middlesex vs. Northamptonshire
Half-centuries from David Sales and Mal Loye along with a disciplined bowling performance bagged http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817 in a floodlit Clydesdale Bank 40 clash at the ‘home of cricket’ at Lord’s on Thursday, 5th August. Chasing Northamptonshire’s par-for-course 40-overs total of 264 for 5, Middlesex was rolled over by a disciplined opposition attack for just 215 runs on the penultimate ball of the match.
David Sales and opener Mal Loye blazed with the bat, scoring brisk half-centuries to take Northamptonshire towards a competitive total of 264 in their allotted 40 overs with five wickets still intact. Sales played an aggressive knock of 84 runs from 70 balls, hitting eight muscular boundaries and two huge sixes while Mal Loye compiled 66 runs from 69 deliveries, plundering four lofty sixes and as many boundaries to his credit. Northamptonshire’s bowling was led by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Willey-c1342 shared two wickets each.
Middlesex Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-Dexter-c2091, after winning the toss, elected to field first. The explosive opening combination of Northamptonshire comprising Mal Loye and Rob Newton, after being put into bat first, gave their side a strong batting foundation of 108 runs from 16 overs. In the process, Dexter introduced a number of bowling changes but no one was able to stop the blitz of the fluent openers.
Toby http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shaun-Udal-c2505 in the next over.
Wakely’s departure brought David Sales to the crease and in partnership with Newton’s opening partner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mal-Loye-c1879; the pair played some sweetly-timed shots. In the meanwhile Loye reached his 50 from 46 balls. However, the partnership was short-lived. On the first ball of the 25th over, fluent opener Loye – while taking a needless single - was run out from a Gareth Berg throw. Loye played a fine knock of 66 runs from 69 balls. During his 94 minute stay at the crease, Loye entertained the adoring crowd at Lord’s with four sixes and four boundaries.
After Loye’s dismissal, Stephen Peters joined http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Sales-c1337 in his assault. The duo mauled the Middlesex attack from both ends for boundaries and sixes, taking the side towards a competitive score. Sales piled up his 50 of as many balls, hitting 4 boundaries and one six. The partnership was worth 88 when Neil Dexter broke it on the last ball of 36th over, having the pugnacious Sales caught by Tom Scollay. He scored 84 runs from just 70 balls. The 34 runs from Sales after his half-century came through just 20 balls including four boundaries and a six.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Hall-c1040 added 12 more runs to the total off the last seven balls. Northamptonshire amassed a competitive 264 for 5 from their allotted 40 overs.
Middlesex got off to a bad start and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Wicketkeeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gareth-Berg-c1457’s 28 off 22. Four other batsmen also lost their wickets in the twenties. The entire team was bowled out in the last over for 215 with a ball to spare.
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