Essex made it through quarterfinal despite 11 run defeat
Even the 11 runs win against Essex in the final group match of Friends Provident T20 Cup could not help http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Middlesex-c817 claim a berth in the quarterfinals of the tournament because of a low run-rate. In a match played at Chelmsford on 18th July, Gareth Berg’s 41 runs and a wicket well supported by Benn Scott’s unbeaten 43 off 3 deliveries led Middlesex set up a close 11 runs win against the group’s Number 2, Essex. Yet the winners were not lucky enough to proceed to the next stage because of an inferior run-rate.
Middlesex after getting an offer of batting from James Foster set a competitive total of 173 for 7 in the 20 overs innings. Though the side lost some quick wickets but Benn Scott (43 off 33), Gareth Berg (41 off 24) and David Warner (37 off 20) took the side to the formidable 173. In reply Essex could score only 162 in their 20 overs innings losing six wickets.
David Warner, despite losing his opening partner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Maurice-Chambers-c1934. His 20 runs off 19 deliveries contained four boundaries. The third wicket partnership between Warner and David Malan could add 26 runs to the Middlesex’s total before Malan was bowled by Maurice Chambers. Malan scored 11 off 13 including a boundary.
The next man to go was the bludgeoning opener David Warner who played an aggressive innings of 37 from 20 deliveries. His 39 minutes stay at the crease amused the county fans with six boundaries and a six. Maurice Chamber was slaughtered by the pugnacious Warner as five of his boundaries came from successive deliveries of an over bowled by Chamber. The mauling resulted in exchange of some harsh words between the pacer and Warner that led the umpire Martin Bodenham intervene. The opener was stumped by the wicketkeeper James Foster on a beautiful delivery of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Grant-c60671 Flower.
With 77 for 4 on the board, Middlesex were desperate for a big partnership and that was the time when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Benn-c47745 Scott remained unbeaten at 43. His 33 balls innings included five boundaries.
7 got off to a bad start with opener’http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pedro-Collins-c2174 edging Owais Shah at the short mid-wicket. While Bopara spooned Collins an easy catch off Murtagh's opening over.
In the fifth over, Essex was struggling at 22 for 2. The disciplined bowling from Middlesex bowlers well respected by the fielders restricted the opposition to only 59 runs at the halfway stage. Some late efforts by the middle-order Scott Styris and the captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 overcome 11 runs defeat in their final group match. At the end of 20 overs Essex were still 11 runs behind Middlesex’s 172. Gareth berg’s 41 runs and a wicket earned him man-of-the-match award.
Essex will face off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lancashire-c806 in the quarterfinal match at Chelmsford on 27th July.
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