Simpson stars in Panthers’ epic YB40 win

Leicestershire 274-8 (40 ov) lost to Middlesex 275-6 (38.2 ov) by 4 wickets
(Middlesex 2 pts, Leicestershire 0 pts)

Eoin Morgan and John Simpson’s half centuries helped Middlesex chase down 274 in an entertaining final Yorkshire Bank 40 group match at Lord’s.

Chasing Leicestershire’s imposing total, Morgan smashed 90 from 63 balls before Simpson hit successive boundaries to seal the victory.

Earlier, Ealing-born Ollie Wilkin took two wickets on his 40-over debut but former Middlesex second XI wicket-keeper Ned Eckersley scored a steady 73 to guide the Foxes to 274-8.

A win was never going to be enough to see the Panthers through to the semi-finals but did secure third place in group C.

Greg Smith’s 56 got Leicestershire off to a solid start while Matthew Boyce chipped in with 53 from 58 balls.

Eckersley, a former member of the MCC groundstaff who was a substitute fielder in the 2009 Ashes Test at Lord’s, hit eight fours in his knock, but Panthers’ task was made that much harder in a dramatic final over, which cost 26 runs

Tom Wells hit three fours and two sixes and the Foxes had a further six runs added to their total for Middlesex’s slow over rate.

Their reply began badly as Dawid Malan and Paul Stirling were dismissed inside the first five overs but Morgan and Joe Denly added 72 to help get Middlesex on track at the halfway stage.

Morgan, who struck eight fours and four sixes, was closing in on a century before being caught in the deep with 15 overs remaining.

Adam Voges, on his last Middlesex appearance before Chris Rogers returns on Wednesday, scored 37 but hit just one boundary and when he was sent packing, Panthers needed 77 from the final 10 overs.

Wilkin assisted with 20 but it was Simpson who got Middlesex over the line with some heavy hitting and victory was secured with 10 balls to spare.

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