Middlesex send warning shot to Yorkshire and Glamorgan with authoritative win in first semi-final

Middlesex (109/0 from 10.4 overs) beat Leicestershire (140/8 from 20 overs) by 10 wickets (DLS method)

A fine 50 from 30 balls by opener Finty Trussler saw Middlesex ease into the Vitality Blast Division 2 final in a one-sided semi-final against a young Leicestershire side.

Earlier in the day, Leicestershire had hit a decent but, one suspected, a slightly under-par 140 from their 20 overs. Francesca Sweet (38) and Scarlett Hughes (47) made the most telling contributions for them, contributing 13 of their 18 boundaries. Ellie Phillips helped to raise their total to 140 with some fine ball striking at the end, but Leicestershire entered the second innings knowing they would have to bowl extremely well to restrict a very strong Middlesex side.

At this point, the weather intervened. Nearly an hour of persistent drizzle kept the covers on and the players off the pitch. At 1.30pm, the umpires led the players back on with a revised total of 108 from 14 overs set for Middlesex. Trussler, opening with Issy Routledge, immediately put Leicestershire onto the back foot, taking 13 from the first over.

And with the ball slippery and the pressure being applied by Middlesex’s aggressive approach, the cracks started to show for an inexperienced Leicestershire side, as catches were spilled and an extraordinary passage of play saw Middlesex run five from a series of misfields, poor throws and overthrows. 

So Middlesex passed their target with 20 balls to spare. Leicestershire should be pleased to have made finals day and will have benefitted from the experience. Middlesex await Yorkshire or Glamorgan in the final.