Bowling fails again

By Jeremy Horne
May 24 2002

Middlesex’s pathetic one day bowling attack was once again put to the sword as Essex eased passed their supposedly imposing target of 292. Middlesex looked to be in control after a 5th wicket stand of 135 between Sven Koenig and Paul Weekes as well as Simon Cook's 39 off 15 balls.

Essex had also looked in trouble at 68-3 with Cook claiming Darren Robinson (bowled) and Ashley Cowan (caught behind). However Nasser Hussain continued in his rich vein of form as he fell four short of a century when he was bowled by Abdur Razzaq. He shared in stands of 74 with Andy Flower (45) and 86 with Ronnie Irani, whose 86 not out guided Essex to victory. Aftab Habib was also there at the end, sharing an unbroken 67 with Irani as he made 29 not out. Middlesex had earlier recovered from a poor slow start that had saw them 99-4. But Sven Koenig’s maiden one day hundred from Middlesex and Paul Weekes’ 76 not out produced a recovery partnership of 135 to give Middlesex a formidable total of 291-5. Middlesex innings: Strauss c Flower b Irani 10 Koenig c Clarke b Irani 116 Abdur Razzaq lbw b Dakin 8 Shah c Grayson b Dakin 20 Joyce run out 10 Weekes Not out 76 Cook Not out 39 Extras 12 Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 291 Did not bat: Hutton, Nash, Laraman, Bloomfield Essex innings: Hussain b Abdur Razzaq 96 Robinson b Cook 17 Dakin lbw b Laraman 4 Cowan c Nash b Cook 1 Flower lbw b Weekes 45 Irani Not out 86 Habib Not out 29 Extras 17 Total (for 5 wkts, 48.1 overs) 295 Did not bat: Stephenson, Grayson, Middlebrook, Clarke