Hollman the hero as Middlesex reach first List-A final for 36 years

Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-final: Middlesex (255-8) beat Durham (254-7) by two wickets

Luke Hollman wrote himself into Middlesex folklore as they reached their first List-A Final for 36 years with a thrilling two-wicket win over Durham at Radlett.

Middlesex appeared out of it at 145-7 chasing a target of 255 but Hollman struck a six and 11 fours in an unbeaten 83 making the winning hit with eight balls to spare, Colin Ackerman the pick of the bowlers with 3-46.

Earlier, Will Rhodes hit 80 and Ackerman an unbeaten 71 as Durham totaled 254-7, Hollman returning 3-53 including two caught and bowled, while there were two wickets apiece for Naavya Sharma and Zafar Gohar.

Alex Lees was an early victim of Sharma, caught behind by Joe Cracknell, but Rhodes and Ben McKinney, who muscled the game’s first six, put the loss behind them to share a half-century stand.

McKinney (45) was ultimately undone by the wily Gohar, skying a catch to square leg, but David Bedingham twice cleared the ropes to leave Durham 119-2 at the halfway mark.

Hollman though cut Bedingham’s innings short and controversy followed when Stokes was adjudged caught behind off Gohar from one which bounced on him but which he clearly felt he hadn’t hit.

At 136-4 the visitors were in danger of falling short, but Ackerman played a gem of an innings, running hard between the wickets and mixing in a sprinkling of boundaries in a run-a-ball 50.

While he stood firm Hollman finally saw the back of Rhodes, before removing Ollie Robinson, both men falling caught and bowled, the latter dismissal a spectacular diving effort in his follow through.

Stokes, perhaps still smarting from his earlier dismissal, removed De Caires with a brute of a lifting ball as the chase began and Geddes feathered behind off the hostile Luke Robinson. Cracknell counter-attacked briefly before Bedingham pulled off a blinding catch at midwicket.

Caleb Falconer, fresh from two half-centuries for the County Select XI against the Pakistan tourists, joined forces with Nathan Fernandes to continue the counter-offensive. Fernades, playing the ball late, cutting and driving to good effect, while Falconer struck Kasey Aldridge for successive fours as the 50-partnership came up in good time.

Falconer though ran himself out looking for a single that wasn’t there and Fernandes fell shortly afterwards to Ackerman’s spin, McKinney taking a fine catch diving forward at deep square.

When Ackerman removed Gohar and Toby Roland-Jones in quick succession the game looked done at 145-7, but Middlesex, starved of one-day success for so long refused to go quietly.

Hollman belted one into the crowd and otherwise played with great maturity to reach 50 in 68 balls while Helm twice cleared the ropes in a thrilling stand.

With 31 needed Helm edged Shaf Ghafari behind, but Cornwell blocked out an end while Hollman chipped away at the target.

A four off Stokes helped reduce that target to four before Hollman swept Parkinson to fine leg to clinch a famous victory.