Middlesex facing One-Day Cup exit after Notts defeat

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Nottinghamshire 295-9 (50 ov) beat Middlesex 246 (48 ov) by 49 runs
(Middlesex 0 pts, Nottinghamshire 2 pts)

Middlesex face a struggle to qualify for the Royal London One-Day Cup knockout stages after losing to Nottinghamshire at Lord’s.

Home skipper James Franklin opted to field and Toby Roland-Jones struck twice early on to leave Notts 44-3 in the 12th over.

But opener Riki Wessels upped the tempo with a brilliant knock of 132, scored off just 118 balls. It included seven sixes, including two in a row off Roland-Jones in the over before he finally perished trying to switch hit.

Wessels was one of four victims for Ollie Rayner, who finished with 4-35, beating his List A career-best set in the win over Kent last Friday.

With 10 overs left, Nottinghamshire were 216-6 but Steven Mullaney (51 from 50 balls) and Luke Fletcher (39 from 29) pushed the final total up to 295-9.

Sam Robson put Middlesex in a strong position as he scored 88, and shared in stands of 71 with Dawid Malan (33) and 81 with Nick Gubbins (45).

But a few balls after Gubbins went, James Franklin was run out without scoring and Andy Balbirnie made only eight as Middlesex slipped from 152-1 to 167-4.

Robson’s departure in the 38th over left the home side needing 101 but John Simpson (27) was the only remaining batsman to offer a threat.

With the required rate creeping up, Samit Patel accounted for the tailenders to finish with 3-45 as Middlesex were bowled out 50 short.

Middlesex can still mathematically qualify but they will need to beat Glamorgan on 17 August and hope a string of other results go their way.

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