Middlesex 105 & 154 lost to Sussex 386 by an innings and 127 runs
Sussex 23pts, Middlesex 3pts
Middlesex crumbled to a heavy innings defeat at Hove after another middle-order collapse.
Needing to bat all day to save the game, the visitors failed to make it to lunch as they lost eight wickets in 13 overs during a dramatic morning session.
Once the well-set Chris Rogers had edged behind, Sussex carved through the Middlesex line-up with Neil Dexter (5), Eoin Morgan (2) and Adam Rossington (4) again out for single-figure scores.
Australian paceman Steve Magoffin claimed five wickets, including two in two balls, as Sussex laid down an early marker for a potential title challenge.
It was a victory achieved effectively in two and a bit days as the whole of Monday’s play was lost to rain, and will again raise concerns over Middlesex’s brittle batting.
In truth, the writing had looked on the wall once Sussex had established 281-run first innings lead on Tuesday and removed Sam Robson late in the day.
Rogers (41) and Dawid Malan (36) guided Middlesex through the first eight overs on a pitch that – despite the conditions earlier in the match – looked good for batting on.
But the loss of the skipper turned out to to be the beginning of the end as Dexter, Morgan and Rossington lasted just 18 balls between them.
Having looked steady at 89-1, Middlesex found themselves reeling on 103-6 just six overs later.
Sussex closed in on victory when Magoffin induced John Simpson to edge to slip and then yorked Toby Roland-Jones first ball.
But, like Jon Lewis in the first innings, he was unable to complete a hat-trick as Tim Murtagh survived.
Steven Finn threw the bat around to make 26 from 22 balls, including dispatching one Magoffin delivery on to the pavilion, but the Australian had the last word by bowling him and finishing with figures of 5-56.
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This post was last modified on 10/04/2014