Good win for Sussex
Sussex's Murray Goodwin cuts during his 104-ball 111
A superb century from Murray Goodwin and some suicidal batting from Middlesex helped Sussex to register only their second victory in the Friends Provident Trophy at Lord’s.
Despite a maiden limited-overs unbeaten century from Nick Compton (110), the hosts fell nine runs short after looking set to cruise to victory when both Compton and Owais Shah were at the crease.
Chasing a target of 272, Middlesex lost the early wicket of Ed Joyce who chipped straight to Richard Montgomerie at short mid-wicket with the score on 23. One run later skipper Ed Smith (nought) played on to a ball that was too close to cut in Robin Martin-Jenkins’ first over.
The dismissal of Shah for 88, caught at mid-off, set off the panic button after the pair shared a stand of 163. Then Eoin Morgan fell for 16 despite his first ball disappearing over the square-leg boundary. That was soon followed by the wicket of Jamie Dalrymple who ran himself out without scoring.
David Nash became the sixth wicket to fall, caught at deep square-leg for just two. Chaminda Vaas (three) sliced to extra cover to leave the Crusaders on 227 for seven. Tim Murtagh then went for nine, caught by Michael Yardy.
Middlesex batsman Owais Shah was at his elegant best
Earlier, the prolific Goodwin finished with a fine 111 from just 104 balls and with Montgomerie scoring 82 the pair shared a record-breaking third-wicket stand of 172 in 30 overs. Montgomerie was then bowled by part-time bowler Joyce.
The two came to the crease with the score on 56 for two after the Crusaders had snapped up the early wickets of openers, Chris Nash and Luke Wright.
First to go was Nash (16) who having clipped Murtagh to the leg-side boundary the previous ball tried to repeat the shot with the next ball but was trapped leg before.
Wright and Montgomerie then pushed the score past 50 before the former fell for 23 to a brilliant diving catch at extra cover by Morgan.
Goodwin was quickly into his stride with some sweetly-timed shots and both he and Montgomerie went to their 50s in the 32nd over and their 100 partnership came from only 125 balls. The stand was broken by Joyce in the 45th over.
Yardy was quickly back in the Pavilion beaten by a ball from Owais Shah that came back into the former England batsman wrapping him on the pads. Goodwin then went to his hundred with a delightful square drive before his lost Ollie Rayner (1) superbly run-out by Shah at extra cover.
Goodwin was dismissed in the 48th over caught in the deep and that was quickly followed by the wicket of Carl Hopkinson, bowled round his legs for six. Two more wickets fell in the final over as first Andrew Hodd (10) was clean-bowled by Murtagh and then James Kirtley (one) was run out off the last ball.
