Panthers edge out Essex in t20 thriller

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Essex 170-8 (20 ov) lost to Middlesex 174-3 (19.4 ov) by seven wickets

Dawid Malan hit a stylish 86 to guide Middlesex Panthers to a nail-biting t20 victory in front of a packed house at Lord’s.

The left-hander’s 55-ball knock, including 10 fours and three sixes, got the hosts most of the way there, with Joe Denly’s 52 edging them closer.

However, in a dramatic final over it was left to Adam Rossington to seal the win with two balls to spare after a run out had threatened to derail their charge.

Earlier, some big hitting at the start and finish of Essex’s innings enabled the visitors to reach 170-8 in their 20 overs.

Openers Mark Pettini (37 from 26 balls) and Hamish Rutherford (38 from 17) got the Eagles off to a flyer, scoring seven fours and six sixes between them.

Rutherford hit 20 from one Toby Roland-Jones over but the Middlesex bowler got the last laugh as he trapped him lbw off the final delivery.

Pettini was equally as dangerous until he swung and missed at a beautiful delivery from t20 debutant Ravi Patel that turned and hit the off stump.

At halfway, the Eagles were scoring at just under 10 an over but the Panthers’ slow bowlers applied the brakes, Adam Voges taking two wickets.

Essex slipped to 122-6 in the 17th over, but late hitting from Ravi Bopara (33 not out) and Graham Napier (24) boosted the score and they finished on a more respectable 170-8.

Middlesex’s reply began steadily rather than spectacularly, with Malan anchoring from the top of the order, but at the 10-over mark they were behind the asking rate.

However, Essex’s slow bowling wasn’t as controlled and Malan and Denly were able to pick gaps, reaching their 50 partnership off 32 balls.

Australian Shaun Tait bowled an expensive 13th over, conceding 16 runs including three wides, as Essex began to lose their grip on the match.

Malan holed out to end a superb innings but Denly and Voges continued to tick off the runs and Panthers looked comfortable when needing just six off the final over.

However, in going for what would have been a match-winning second run, Voges was run out just short of his ground, heightening the tension.

Rossington grabbed his chance to be a hero though, with a four to long leg to clinch the win.

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