Shah guides Middlesex home

England One Day batsman Owais Shah scored a cultered 83* to steer his county to a 5 wicket win at Northampton.

Mike Hussey won the toss, and decided to bat, but was soon back in the pavilion, a victim of Chad Keegan.

The in-form Phil Jaques replaced him, but he too failed to score big, as Simon Cook dismissed him.

The stand of the innings then occured, as David Sales scored a rapid 56 from 65 balls, and opener Tim Roberts grafted out 64 from 80 to lift the score to 135-2 before Cook struck again to remove Roberts, and then almost immediately had his third wicket with a return catch offered by his namesake Jeff Cook.

Although wicket-keeper Gerard Brophy and Ben Phillips both hit out towards the end of the innings, the final score of 234-8 was a bit disappointing after the 3rd wicket stand.

Paul Weekes and Andy Strauss set about proving the target too small with gusto, and added 69 for the first wicket, before both fell within 8 runs of each other.

Shah was able to build on this platform with some classy shots and a pair of big sixes, as he was given great support by Ed Joyce.

A quick clatter of wickets reduced the score to 157-5 when Ben Hutton joined Shah and the pair knocked off the remaining 81 runs in just 31 minutes, Hutton finishing unbeaten on 24 from 25 balls.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 234-8 (Roberts 64, Sales 56, Cook 3-40)
MIDDLESEX 238-5 (Shah 83*, Strauss 41)

Posted by Marc