Blast in the Past: Hampshire v Middlesex

There were moments during Sunday’s win at Chelmsford when Middlesex threatened to squander their opportunity but here, bar a minor wobble in the chase when two wickets fell in an over, they completely outplayed the group leaders.

Despite Toby Albert and James Vince’s opening stand of 60 after Hampshire were inserted on a used wicket, the visiting bowlers – particularly spin duo Luke Hollman and Zafar Gohar – kept them under a tight rein during the middle overs.

Naavya Sharma’s mature bowling at the death helped to keep the Hawks down to 159-4 and Middlesex managed their response sensibly, led by Max Holden’s 62 from 49 balls – a very welcome first Blast half-century since the win at Hove early in the tournament.

Holden shared significant partnerships with both Matt Boyle and Ben Geddes, the latter slamming three sixes to register 44 not out from 31, his best T20 effort of the summer and sealing victory with an over to spare.

Just about everything, you might argue! But, in addition to the performances of the spinners and Sharma with the ball, it’s also worth noting that the first two Hampshire wickets owed much to brilliant Middlesex fielding.

Holden and Josh de Caires can pat each other on the back after combining to remove Vince with a slick relay catch on the boundary, but that was eclipsed by Joe Cracknell’s takedown of the dangerous Albert two overs later.

The wicketkeeper raced out towards short leg, turned smartly and scythed down the solitary stump that was clear in his eyeline, which all helped to set the tone for the remainder of the Hampshire innings.

Tom Helm took some tap in the powerplay, with his second over going for 20 and hasn’t yet really hit his straps since the Blast resumed, although it’s fair to say it was probably a better night for the spinners in any case.

Aside from that, Boyle might regret attempting a flamboyant sweep at left-armer Andrew Neal’s first delivery – and Leus du Plooy getting out in similar fashion three balls later gave Hampshire a glimmer of hope that had been absent up to then.

Whisper it quietly, but could Middlesex make it three in a row when they take on Sussex Sharks, the only team below them in the table, at Merchant Taylors’ School on Friday night?

You’ve got to go back to the start of the 2022 tournament for the last instance of a hat-trick of consecutive Middlesex wins in the Blast but, if Du Plooy’s men can avoid defeat, they’ll be guaranteed to miss out on the wooden spoon. Even the giddy heights of fourth place could then be on the radar…