Hampshire defeated Middlesex by 19 runs at Merchant Taylors’ School to advance to the Metro Bank One-Day Cup knockout stages thanks to Toby Albert’s fourth List-A half century and two key wickets for Mohammad Abbas.
Luke Hollman took 4 for 61 for the hosts as Albert scored 75 runs in 53 balls, including four sixes, while sharing partnerships of 59 with Liam Dawson (48) and 49 with Kyle Abbott (20 not out) as the visitors amassed 276 for 7.
After Mark Stoneman, 53, and Jack Davis, 46, shared a partnership of 90 for the fourth wicket, Pakistani international Abbas returned to remove both, and Abbott, 4 for 48, saw Hampshire cross the finish line as Middlesex were bowled out for 257 with 11 balls remaining. Middlesex was in the hunt to chase down the target.
Derbyshire defeated Durham by a close margin at Chester-Le-Street, while Hampshire advanced to the quarterfinals based only on net run-rate.
After losing the toss, Hampshire was put in to bat and were soon irritated by the powerplay and pressure, as shown when Fletcha Middleton gave Ethan Bamber a slip and captain Nick Gubbins went through 34 balls before slicing one from Henry Brookes into Ryan Higgins’ hands at point. After making the catch, the all-round player exited the field.
Tom Prest got off to a great start, blasting Bamber back over his head for six, and then Cracknell shelled one to give him a life. Replays would grant the 21-year-old another respite, this time demonstrating that Cracknell’s direct impact had left him short of his ground. It did not matter since in the next over Hollman trapped him leg before wicket. Before Nathan Fernandes could top-edge a sweep into his hands, Ben Brown also got a start.
Though it took a magnificent sprinting catch from Cracknell in the deep to remove the former England spinner two short of what would have been a spectacular half-century, Dawson found an ally in Albert, and the two cleared the ropes in a 50-stand from 44 balls.
Toby Albert came back to take up the initiative and reached the milestone in forty-five balls.
He and Abbott then added a vital fifty-nine from the final twenty-eight deliveries, making a par score look difficult. Abbott delivered a devastating early strike, lbwing the highly effective Cracknell with 21 on the board, just after his batting cameo. Soon after, Abbas was certain he had Sam Robson in a similar situation, but the umpire dismissed loud protests. However, progress was sluggish; it took over 15 overs to reach the 50.
After edging past a near-run out to be bowled by Brad Wheal, Fernandez fell two balls later, and Robson’s agonising 20 from 49 was terminated by a catch in deep.
After a few beers, Stoneman indicated a shift in strategy with three consecutive fours of Wheal. Then, as the 50-stand approached in 49 balls, the bustling Davis captured the mood again by sending deliveries from Felix Organ over the ropes.
Under lowering skies, Stoneman reached 50 off 55 balls, forcing Gubbins to bring back his opening bowlers. However, Davis then edged another over wicketkeeper Brown’s head, sending Abbott to the midwicket barrier.
Abbas resolved the situation by dismissing both set hitters in his final over as rain threatened. After Davis skied one to Brown behind the stumps to break the stand at ninety, Stoneman’s outside edge saw the duo act go at it again four balls later.
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Despite some courageous late smashes from Hollman (27) and Brookes (29 not out), Higgins emerged with Cracknell as a runner but was bowled by Dawson for a two-ball duck. Abbott had the last say.
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