Middlesex collapse hands Sussex simple T20 victory
Middlesex 146 (17.4 ov): Stirling 52, Gubbins 32; Briggs 3-24
Sussex 147-3 (18.2 ov): Machan 41*; Sowter 1-21, Roland-Jones 1-21
Sussex (2 pts) beat Middlesex (0 pts) by seven wickets
A Middlesex batting collapse precipitated a seven-wicket defeat to Sussex in the T20 Blast at Hove.
The visitors looked on course for a commanding score when they reached 71-1 in the sixth over, with Paul Stirling (52 off 24 balls) in full flow.
But after he departed, Middlesex completely lost momentum and lost nine wickets for 75.
On a slow but true pitch, Sussex had to take few risks as they sauntered to their target with 10 balls to spare.
Sussex’s fourth victory, which came after they hadn’t won in four, lifted them above Middlesex into third place in the South group.
The control Sussex had at the end was in sharp contrast to the opening overs as Stirling flayed their bowlers, hitting Tymal Mills for two sixes as well as eight boundaries.
But Sussex began to drag it back thanks to their slow bowlers, with Briggs and leg-spinner Will Beer boasting combined figures of 5-47.
Briggs picked up Nick Gubbins (32) and Ryan Higgins (4) off successive deliveries, while Beer claimed the important wicket of George Bailey, on his Middlesex debut, for 16 and also removed the dangerous James Franklin (5).
Middlesex’s hopes were briefly revived when Harry Podmore had Sussex skipper Luke Wright (23) caught behind in the ninth over, Wright having earlier put on 46 with Phil Salt (27) for the second wicket.
But Ross Taylor (33 not out) and Matt Machan (41 not out) simply ticked over as they added an undefeated 74 in 62 balls.
