Middlesex comfortably beaten by rivals Surrey

Middlesex’s hopes of reaching the Royal London Cup knockout stages were severely damaged after a thumping defeat to rivals Surrey.

The visitors always looked second best, posting a below-par total despite half-centuries from Nick Gubbins (75) and John Simpson (65), and they were overhauled with almost five overs to spare

The result leaves Middlesex with little margin for error in their four remaining group matches, starting with their trip to face Kent at Canterbury on Sunday.

Put in to bat, Middlesex never gathered any momentum, Dawid Malan’s patchy form continuing as he hooked Tom Curran (2-52) to deep square leg for 14.

Nick Compton’s first appearance of the season lasted just five deliveries before he was caught behind without scoring off Ravi Rampaul (4-40), while Adam Voges (9) perished to a wild swipe at Stuart Meaker.

The only substantial contributions came from the in-form Gubbins and Simpson – and once the latter had been trapped leg before by Gareth Batty for a jaunty 75, the innings ground to a virtual halt.

Only 40 runs were added from the final 10 overs, with James Franklin (35) and Ollie Rayner (8) both holing out in the latter stages as Middlesex stumbled to 243-9.

The visitors’ hopes were raised at the start of Surrey’s reply when Toby Roland-Jones bowled Mark Stoneman (10) around his legs, but they were unable to capitalise on that early success.

Kumar Sangakkara (59) and Scott Borthwick (45) kept it simple as they worked the ball around, piercing the field with ease and adding 91 for the second wicket with little pressure.

The leg-spin of Malan (2-39) accounted for both batsmen in quick succession, but Ben Foakes and Rory Burns picked up the baton, with an unbroken century partnership.

Foakes finished on 55 not out and Burns completed the job as he top-scored with an undefeated 67.