Orr ton helps Hants beat Middlesex in cup quarters

Radlett, a quarter-finalist of Metro Bank One-Day Cup

Hampshire 229-9 (50 overs): Orr 108, Brookes 4-53

Middlesex 187 all out (45.3 overs): Robson 48, Dawson 4-33

Hampshire defeated Middlesex in their quarter-final at Radlett to advance to the One-Day Cup semi-finals thanks to Ali Orr’s second century of the competition.

As Hampshire defeated their opponents at 230 against paceman Henry Brookes, who had started the game with a 2-43 win, the left-hander struck 108 and batted the majority of the innings to support their recovery.

Middlesex’s response was then stifled by Liam Dawson’s 4-33 run, which was supported by fellow left-arm spinner Andrew Neal (1-30), who was bowled out for 187 in 45.3% of the match.

The contest was prolonged by Sam Robson’s top 48 points and Toby Roland-Jones’ late, unbeaten comeback of 39, but it did not enough to prevent Hampshire from reaching the semi-finals on Sunday when they will face Yorkshire at Scarborough.

The team that had won in a tense win over Lancashire had three changes, including Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins, who both returned for clean openings.

Even so, Orr and Nick Gubbins maintained a steady 45-foot partnership until Brookes struck with his second delivery, conjuring up the Hampshire captain’s misplaced pull that sailed straight to midwicket.

When Ben Brown was already pinned leg before, Fletcha Middleton was caught behind nudging at a Brookes outswinger and the seamer quickly took his and Middlesex’s third wicket.

Middlesex continued to make inroads, timing his shots on both sides of the wicket and guiding Brookes to the point boundary to pass 50 for the second time in as many innings.

Sebastian Morgan was Dawson’s choice for his first appearance of the tournament, and Zafar Gohar’s mediocre 1-29 inning miscued a reverse sweep, gave him the wicket of Ben Mayes.

However, James Fuller’s daring 42 made for a perfect foil for Orr, who added 96 from 18 overs before Higgins caught the all-rounder deep.

After hooking Brookes for six in style, Orr eventually sat on Higgins, putting an end to Hampshire’s attempt to climb above 250.

After Nathan Fernandes’ match-winning 92 at Old Trafford, Middlesex changed their starting lineup, and the left-hander followed suit with two sweetly struck straight drives to the rope off Kyle Abbott.

The batting attack looked reasonably comfortable at 66-1 before the Hampshire spinners decisively pegged them back, despite Fuller’s diving catch around the corner.

When Neal and Dawson pinted Fernandes to the ground before taking him to the ground before taking Higgins low at slip, his 42 innings came to an end.

The spin duo smothered their opponents’ scoring rate in the middle overs, exploiting rare stray deliveries, and trying to play the game deep when they did.

Joe Cracknell launched a quick counter-attack, hitting a six and two fours from one Fuller over to make it 22 balls from as many balls, but the bowler retaliated by dismissing both Cracknell and Gohar with three deliveries later.

With the score unchanged, Brown’s clever stumping to remove Robson gave Hampshire a third wicket, which appeared to signal the end of Middlesex’s challenge. However, Roland-Jones started the offensive, hitting Abbott for three off-side runs.

In the ninth over, he added 45 with Morgan, but Dawson’s bowling of last man Brookes sealed the victory for Hampshire.