Middlesex crash despite Simpson knock

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Middlesex 171-7 (20 ov) lost to Somerset 178-9 (20 ov) by 21 runs
(Middlesex 0 pts, Somerset 2 pts)

Middlesex crashed to their fifth consecutive T20 Blast defeat as Somerset cruised to a nine-wicket win at Uxbridge.

John Simpson, batting at three, made a T20 career-best 84 not out to effectively carry the Middlesex innings, as the rest of the line-up failed to fire.

They made a strong start, scoring 45 from the first three overs but the loss of openers Nick Compton (10) and Paul Stirling (29) led to the runs drying up a little, and they were 89-3 at the halfway mark.

England one-day captain Eoin Morgan took 16 balls to make seven, while James Franklin (7), Ryan Higgins (3) and Ollie Rayner (5) all fell in single figures.

Simpson hit six fours and three sixes to drag Middlesex up to 171-7, but that always looked under par.

Somerset put the total into context by scoring regular boundaries – only two overs didn’t feature a four or a six – as openers Johann Myburgh (53) and Jim Allenby (89 not out) put on 118 for the first wicket in 13.2 overs.

Peter Trego then came in to help finish the job, closing it out with a six to see Somerset home with 12 balls to spare.

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