Malan ton leads Panthers to YB40 victory

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Middlesex 206-5 (38 ov) beat Gloucester 186-9 (38 ov) by 19 runs (D/L)
(Middlesex 2 pts, Gloucestershire 0 pts)

A tremendous unbeaten century from Dawid Malan and a disciplined bowling display earned Middlesex a Yorkshire Bank 40 win at Lord’s.

After early showers had reduced the match to 38 overs per side, Malan scored 113 not out from 116 balls to lead Panthers to 206-5.

Steve Finn took a wicket in the first ball of the Gloucestershire reply while James Harris claimed 3-30 as the visitors failed to chase down their target.

The win puts Middlesex third in the group but they still need results to go their way to make the semi-finals.

The players twice came off for rain in the early stages of the match but the breaks didn’t distract Malan, who forged the recovery after Panthers had lost Paul Stirling cheaply.

Malan cracked nine fours and added two crucial sixes late in his knock, while Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan and Neil Dexter made starts before getting out.

Gloucestershire’s target was reduced by one run due to the brief rain interruptions, but they got off to the worst possible start when Finn had Hamish Marshall caught off the first ball of a wicket maiden.

Chris Dent then offered Harris a return catch in the very next over to leave the visitors on 3-2.

Michael Klinger (46) and Ian Cockbain shared in a stand of 81 to set the scoreboard straight a little but they remained behind the asking rate as both fell in successive overs.

Benny Howell added a quick 39 but it was too little too late and Panthers took regular wickets to keep Gloucestershire at bay.

Middlesex need to finish second in their group and then hope they have the best record of the three group runners-up to make the semi-finals.

Currently they are level on points with Glamorgan in their own group, but the Dragons have two games in hand, making a Middlesex win over Leicestershire on Bank Holiday Monday a necessity.

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