August 4, 2024

Joe Cracknell’s 88 clinches Middlesex win at Beckenham

Kent scored 204 runs before being bowled out in 44.4 overs, as Middlesex’s bowlers took regular wickets. Josh de Caires, Henry Brookes, and Nathan Fernandes each claimed two wickets. Marcus O’Riordan top-scored for Kent with 58, but after his dismissal, Kent struggled to build partnerships, only reaching a total above 200 thanks to contributions from Hamid Qadri and Matt Parkinson.

Kent chose to bat but lost Beyers Swanepoel early, caught behind off Ishaan Kaushal for just 2. O’Riordan managed a quick 20 off Kaushal’s fourth over, but he was Kent’s only batter to score freely. De Caires dismissed Joey Evison lbw for 14, and O’Riordan fell to Luke Hollman, caught in front while attempting a reverse sweep. Jaydn Denly was caught by Joe Cracknell for 10, Ethan Bamber had Harry Finch lbw for 23, and Charlie Stobo was stumped by Jack Davies for just 2. Fernandes also removed Jack Leaning for 28 after a sharp catch by Sam Robson. Kent’s hopes of a substantial total faded when Grant Stewart was caught behind off Henry Brookes for 11.

Cracknell and White Lead Middlesex to Convincing Victory Despite Early Scare

In response, Joe Cracknell scored 88 off 82 balls, including two sixes and ten fours. Robbie White added 50 as Middlesex chased down the target with 206 for 5, winning by five wickets with 8.4 overs to spare.

Brookes’ next delivery hit Matt Parkinson on the helmet, but he was cleared to continue after a six-minute delay. Parkinson’s 40-run partnership with Hamid Qadri gave Kent a decent total, but when Qadri was out for 25, caught by Fernandes off Brookes, there were still 5.5 overs left. Nathan Gilchrist was run out by a direct hit from de Caires three balls later, leaving Parkinson stranded on 17 not out.

Middlesex’s chase was smooth, aside from an early scare. Stewart took two quick wickets, removing Fernandes and Sam Robson, but Middlesex’s openers quickly raced to 25 runs without loss. Joe Cracknell then played a dominant innings, scoring 88 before falling 12 runs short of a century, caught by Swanepoel off Parkinson’s bowling. By then, Middlesex needed just 71 runs to win.

Jack Davies scored a quick 35 before being caught by O’Riordan. Although Parkinson had Robbie White caught behind, Mark Stoneman sealed the win with a four in the 32nd over, giving Middlesex a convincing victory.

Prithvi Shaw Sparks Northamptonshire’s One-Day Cup Campaign Into Life.

Justin Broad and Saif Zaib played vital roles as Northamptonshire defeated Worcestershire by 130 runs in their Metro Bank One-Day Cup match at Wantage Road. Northamptonshire’s seamers dominated, with Broad taking two wickets in one over to help reduce Worcestershire to 34 for 5. Broad ended with three wickets, while Jack White took two for 26 in a tight 10-over spell.

Tom Taylor scored 57 off 49 balls for Worcestershire, but his dismissal ended their chances. Saif Zaib then took three wickets for 44, including two in one over, as Worcestershire was bowled out 11 overs short of the target. Worcestershire’s captain, Jake Libby, scored an unbeaten 50, marking his third half-century in four innings this season.

Earlier, Prithvi Shaw continued his strong form in the One-Day Cup with a quick 72 off 59 balls, including 10 fours and one six. George Bartlett (60) and Ricardo Vasconcelos (68) added 107 runs in just over 21 overs, putting Northamptonshire at 215 for 1 in the 40th. However, both fell quickly after a strong start and despite the promising start, Northamptonshire could not set a higher target. Fateh Singh achieved his career-best List A figures with 3 for 51.

Prithvi Shaw gave Northamptonshire a strong start, hitting leg-side boundaries off the first two balls from Tom Taylor. He was powerful both on the drive and pull, smashing Taylor for a six over long-on and hitting Hishaam Khan for a four down the ground.

Ethan Brookes slowed Northamptonshire’s scoring with a tight five-over spell, conceding only 14 runs and particularly troubling Ricardo Vasconcelos. Hishaam Khan then made a breakthrough, dismissing Shaw, who was caught behind while attempting a hook shot, marking Khan’s first List A wicket.

George Bartlett soon got back to fluent batting, reaching 150 for Northamptonshire in the 27th over with well-placed shots, including a boundary through cover and a sweep off Tom Hinley. Vasconcelos, who had struggled earlier with 33 off 66 balls, improved after the drinks break. He swept Singh for consecutive boundaries and quickly reached his 50. Bartlett also brought up his half-century, putting Northamptonshire in a strong position for the final 10 overs.

Despite this, Brookes increased the pressure in his second spell, leading to Bartlett’s dismissal as he tried an ambitious shot against Singh and was caught at backward point. Jake Libby then used his part-time off-breaks to dismiss Vasconcelos on the first ball of his over.

Saif Zaib attempted to push the scoring, hitting Brookes for a four and Singh for a six over mid-on, but Northamptonshire lost three quick wickets after reaching 250. Singh dismissed James Sales and Zaib, while Taylor removed Lewis McManus. Gus Miller finished strongly for Northamptonshire, hitting a six off Taylor to close the innings.

When Worcestershire batted, Ed Pollock hit a six over deep midwicket off Jack White’s second delivery but was dropped at wide mid-on. White quickly took a wicket, dismissing Gareth Roderick, who was caught low at first slip by Prithvi Shaw.

Pollock, who had been given a reprieve, couldn’t make the most of it and was bowled by White when he misjudged a delivery that kept low. Worcestershire soon lost their third wicket in the ninth over, with Rob Jones out caught at short leg by Ricardo Vasconcelos off Ben Sanderson. The situation worsened as Worcestershire fell to 34 for 5. Broad took two wickets in four balls, dismissing Henry Brookes lbw and Rehaan Edavalath, who was caught at first slip by Shaw.

Jake Libby scored a four off a loose delivery from White, pushing Worcestershire past 50 in the 18th over. A brief recovery followed, with Tom Taylor scoring aggressively. He began with a stylish cover drive off Broad, then hit two sixes—one over long-on and another over deep midwicket—bringing up his half-century off 38 balls. However, he was out lbw to Saif Zaib soon after the drinks break, leaving Worcestershire at 112 for 6.

Shiv Singh hit Zaib for two sixes before top-edged a delivery from Freddie Heldreich to short fine leg. Zaib then dismissed Hishaam Khan, who inside-edged onto his stumps, and Tom Hinley, who was caught in the deep. Broad wrapped up Worcestershire’s innings by taking his third wicket, dismissing Harry Darley, who was caught behind.