Report & Reaction: Hampshire Men v Middlesex, Metro Bank One-Day Cup

Metro Bank One-Day Cup men’s competition - Middlesex 284/8 beat Hampshire 124 by 160 runs

By Alex Smith, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Josh de Caires enjoyed the dream all-round day with two career-bests as Middlesex thrashed Hampshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

De Caires, the son of former England captain Michael Atherton, set the tone with a 75 opening the batting – with Sam Robson and Ben Geddes also reaching half-centuries for the visitors.

He then turned to his off spin to take six for 35 – Middlesex’s 11th best List A figures – to raze the Hampshire middle-order and secure a thumping 160-run victory.

Having chosen to bat first, Middlesex looked set for a score north of 300, but the top-order all scored good runs and, despite keeping wickets in hand, they failed to capitalise at the death.

De Caires and Nathan Fernandes delicately amassed runs in the face of Kyle Abbott’s accurate powerplay bowling – putting on 103 in the first 22 overs.

In part one of his glorious day, de Caires was particularly precise in his shot-making, with a mix of well-judged singles and guileful placement to the boundary behind square on the offside and through midwicket.

He has a history of memorable performances at Utilita Bowl, claiming seven wickets during a Rothesay County Championship match three years ago.

But he and Fernandes fell tamely in quick succession, the former chopping on a loopy-wide Nick Gubbins full toss and the latter, a chip to mid on.

Their template was replicated, albeit with slightly more impetus, over the following 14 overs by Sam Robson and Ben Geddes.

The third-wicket duo put on 105, with Geddes adding a degree of hurry with three sweetly struck legside sixes – and both reaching half-centuries.

But Hampshire would be rewarded in the last seven overs for their tight and unremunerated bowling, as they took six wickets for 41 runs.

Indian Ashutosh Sharma – who had picked up Fernandes earlier – used smart changes of pace to claim four for 54, filled with mistimed slogs, to grab his career-best figures.

Ali Orr and Nick Gubbins found a nice early rhythm, in the chase of 285, with a slew of picturesque drives. But once De Caires was handed the ball, the 56-run stand was culled, and Hampshire collapsed.

Orr was bowled through the gate before Gubbins advanced and missed. Fletcha Middleton was well-caught at cover, Jake Lehmann expertly caught behind by Joe Cracknell and Sharma caught at mid off. At that point, de Caires had taken five for 14 in 27 balls.

While Ethan Brookes had dismissed Tom Prest in the meantime, de Caires closed the book on a gilded day when Andrew Neal lumped a full toss to mid off. Only Chad Keegan’s six for 33 against Nottinghamshire in 2005 bettered de Caires’ haul in the 21st century.

Hampshire’s meek batting performance was completed when Ben Brown was caught and bowled, Abbott was caught behind, and Harry Petrie was yorked.