Ali Orr’s second century of the event guided Hampshire into the One-Day Cup semi-finals as they noticed off Middlesex of their quarter-final at Radlett.
The left-hander struck 108, batting by means of a lot of the innings to underpin Hampshire’s restoration from 95-5 as they set their opponents a goal of 230 with paceman Henry Brookes taking 4-53.
Liam Dawson then stifled Middlesex’s reply together with his spell of 4-33, supported by fellow left-arm spinner Andrew Neal (1-30) because the hosts have been bowled out for 187 in 45.3 overs.
Sam Robson top-scored with 48 and Toby Roland-Jones’ late unbeaten cameo of 39 extended the competition, however it was not sufficient to disclaim Hampshire a semi-final date on Sunday, when they may face Yorkshire at Scarborough.
Middlesex made three adjustments to the aspect that had clinched a tense win at Lancashire to safe their knockout place, together with returns for Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins who each despatched down tidy opening spells.
Regardless of that, Orr and Nick Gubbins constructed a gentle partnership of 45 till Brookes struck together with his second supply, tempting the Hampshire captain right into a mistimed pull that sailed straight to midwicket.
Fletcha Middleton was subsequent to depart, caught behind nudging at a Brookes outswinger and the seamer quickly grabbed his – and Middlesex’s – third wicket when Ben Brown was pinned leg earlier than.
Orr batted fluently, timing his pictures on each side of the wicket and steering Brookes to the purpose boundary to cross 50 for the second time in as many innings, however Middlesex continued to make inroads.
Dawson, drafted in for his first look of the event, fell lbw to Sebastian Morgan, whereas Zafar Gohar’s miserly stint of 1-29 introduced him the wicket of Ben Mayes, caught miscuing a reverse sweep.
Nonetheless, James Fuller’s spirited 42 supplied the proper foil for Orr, with the pair including 96 from 18 overs earlier than Higgins had the all-rounder caught within the deep.
Having superior to 3 figures in model by hooking Brookes for six, Orr finally holed out to lengthy on off Higgins, his departure successfully ending Hampshire’s hopes of clambering above 250.
Middlesex rejigged their batting order, selling Nathan Fernandes to open within the wake of his match-winning 92 at Previous Trafford and the left-hander continued in comparable vein with two sweetly-struck straight drives to the rope off Kyle Abbott.
Though Josh de Caires fell to Fuller’s diving catch across the nook, the batting aspect nonetheless regarded fairly comfy at 66-1 earlier than they have been decisively pegged again by the Hampshire spinners.
Fernandes’ innings of 42 got here to an finish when he was pinned leg earlier than by Neal and Dawson then eliminated Ben Geddes in the identical method earlier than having Higgins taken low at slip.
Together with seamer Eddie Jack, the spin duo smothered their opponents’ scoring price within the center overs and it fell to Robson to dig in, benefit from uncommon stray deliveries and try and take the sport deep.
Joe Cracknell launched a short counter-attack, clubbing a six and two fours from one Fuller over to achieve 22 from as many balls, however the bowler took his revenge by dismissing each Cracknell and Gohar within the house of three deliveries.
Brown’s neat stumping to take away Robson introduced Hampshire a 3rd wicket with the rating unchanged and that appeared to sign the tip of Middlesex’s problem, however Roland-Jones went on the offensive, battering Abbott for a trio of off-side boundaries.
He added 45 for the ninth wicket with Morgan, however Hampshire weren’t be denied and Dawson sealed victory by bowling final man Brookes within the forty sixth over.
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