Below-par Panthers slip to third T20 loss

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Middlesex 111-8 (20 ov) lost to Gloucestershire 113-5 (17.2 ov) by 5 wkts

Middlesex suffered their third T20 defeat in a row after a below-par batting performance at Bristol.

John Simpson top scored with 22 as the Panthers lost regular wickets and made only 111 from their allotted 20 overs.

Steve Finn gave Middlesex hope by striking in the first over of the Gloucestershire reply.

But although he and James Harris ended with two wickets apiece, the hosts crossed the line with 16 balls to spare.

Having lost both of the matches in the opening double header at Lord’s last weekend, Panthers would have seen this as an opportunity to kickstart their NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

However they struggled from the off, losing Paul Stirling to the fourth ball of the innings and Joe Denly two overs later.

Dawid Malan hit four fours before being caught at mid-wicket, while stand-in captain Dan Christian struck the only six but otherwise laboured to 18 from 24 balls.

The run-rate stalled at below six in the final few overs, Simpson and Ollie Rayner (15) helping Middlesex to limp to 111-8.

Finn had Michael Klinger caught behind for a duck in the first over of Gloucestershire’s response and Harris also chipped in to check the home side’s progress.

Chris Dent and Hamish Marshall both made 24 but it was left to Benny Howell and Cameron Benning to secure the victory.

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