Victory was just what was needed
TOBY Roland-Jones tore through the Hampshire top order to give Middlesex a comprehensive win and he is convinced his side have finally turned a corner.
Despite playing some good cricket, the county champions only had a loss and a no-result to show from their opening two OneDay Cup matches but rectified that with an 89-run triumph at the Ageas Bowl.
Nick Gubbins made his third List A ton, a fluent 114, to help Middlesex to 295 from their 50 overs, although that target was reduced to 236 from 30.3 overs once the rain set in.
But Roland-Jones forced Michael Carberry to chip down the throat of third man, had James Vince and Liam Dawson caught behind and Tom Alsop caught at first slip to end with remarkable figures of 4-10 from seven overs.
“It is always nice to get wickets up top and a few went my way,” said the seamer. “I felt good and found a nice bit of rhythm.
“The lads set it up well. Gubbo played a classy innings up top. He seemed to time it really nicely. He set us up for a score.
“Winning was the only thing missing from our one-day cricket.”
Hampshire ended 90 runs short of their victory target and, although Reece Topley had taken four wickets in the Middlesex innings, his economy rate of 6.80 told the true story.
“It was a disappointing day,” said director of cricket Giles White. “The weather was miserable and we didn’t play well, either. We have to dust ourselves off and go again on Sunday. It is important we win the next one. In this competition, you need backto-back wins to set you up.”
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TOBY ROLAND-JONES – Middlesex: Phenomenal figures which won the game for his side