Sharks book quarter-final spot with thumping win over Middlesex

Laurie Evans' second half century of the T20 campaign saw Sussex canter to an 8-wicket victory over Middlesex at Uxbridge. Evans plundered three sixes and four fours, reaching his half century from 25 balls when depositing the winning hit into the crowd, as the visitors chased down a target of 172 with four overs to spare.

Quarter-finals ✅ @LaurieEvans32 (52* off 25) and Alex Carey (41* off 23) leave the field with our spot in the last eight confirmed! #SharkAttack🦈 pic.twitter.com/sByvYUBT1d

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 24, 2019

Sharks’ skipper Luke Wright, who had scored a century against Middlesex at Lord’s in the Royal London Cup back in May, had earlier blasted 48 in 27 balls, while Alex Carey was unbeaten on 41.

The victory clinched Sussex’s quarter-final place, as they sit three points clear in the standings, and was the fifth time this season they had put one over the tenants of Lord’s. Middlesex remain fourth, at least for a few hours, but this is the first time in the competition this season they have lost back-to-back games.

Dawid Malan had no hesitation in choosing to bat first and he and Paul Stirling got the hosts off to a strong start. Stirling struck a maximum in the first over as he finally found some form in the format this season.

Malan was even more fluent at the other end, striking some sumptuous trademark cover drives as they rattled up a stand of 57 before Stirling (30) skied one to Laurie Evans at cover off Ollie Robinson from the final ball of the powerplay.

Sadly, for the hosts, Malan (31) followed soon afterwards, hitting Will Beer straight down the throat of deep square. Eoin Morgan kept up the momentum, England’s one day captain clearing the players’ pavilion with one maximum off Danny Briggs.

Mohammed Hafeez (48) too applied the long handle, just clearing the ropes with successive sixes off Beer. At 141-2 off 15 200 looked within reach, but Morgan holed out at long-off from the bowling of Reece Topley (1-30) and from there the innings lost all impetus - just 30 runs were scraped off the last five overs.

Brilliant Chris Jordan yorkers mean four dot balls to finish the innings!

Middlesex end on 171 for 5 #SharkAttack🦈 pic.twitter.com/VPyQORNf7B

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 24, 2019

A total of 171 looked short of par, especially when Sharks’ openers Phil Salt and Wright took three boundaries from Tom Helm’s first over.  Toby Roland Jones was greeted with similar disdain, Wright pulling the former England quick for six over cow corner and successive fours as the 50 came up in four overs.

Hafeez spurned a tough caught and bowled chance to reprieve Wright on 27 and he celebrated by smashing Nathan Sowter for six over mid-wicket in the following over. It was Stirling who made the breakthrough when Salt lofted him to George Scott in the deep, the all-rounder juggling the ball before clinging on.

Wright continued to plunder the home attack until he miscued another big hit and was caught and bowled by Steven Finn. His dismissal did little to stop the carnage, Evans and Carey sharing a stand of 81 in just seven overs as they sped to victory.

Seven off Sowter’s third. 35 off 36 balls to win

🎥 A six each so far for the two Sharks in the middle #SharkAttack🦈 pic.twitter.com/TfVGJHeL6e

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 24, 2019

After his superb unbeaten knock, Laurie Evans said: “It’s about time I got some runs. It was a great wicket and a great performance, especially coming off the back of a couple of losses. Hopefully we’ve qualified now and we are pushing towards that home quarter-final.

“I love batting with that bloke (Alex Carey). It is a matter of time before he is no longer with us because he’ll be playing at a higher level. It takes the pressure off you when you have someone like that batting at the other end as well.

“It’s been a great day - it was a great performance!” 🤩@AdrianHarms chats to @LaurieEvans32 after the batsman’s excellent 52 off 25 balls: pic.twitter.com/MfPOeYiue9

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) August 24, 2019

“The way they started and the way our bowlers came back there was just extraordinary. I think we conceded one boundary in the last five overs, which is an amazing effort on what looked an absolute belter with certainly one short boundary on the leg-side.

“People keep standing up at the right time.”