Match Centre

Middlesex retained the London Cup against Surrey on Wednesday, beating Surrey by 6 wickets on the Duckworth Lewis Stern method.

In a rain-reduced affair, trimmed from the planned 18 overs to 7, the hosts won the toss and elected to field. T20 recruit and England hopeful Lauren Bell opened from the Pavilion end, claiming the key wicket of England allrounder Bryony Smith in her first over at Lord’s. Katie Wolfe, also making her Lord's debut, delivered a wicket-maiden, bowling Kirstie White for 3 to leave Surrey struggling on 3-2.

The hosts continued to bowl well with only 2 overs going for 6 runs, and England allrounder Sophia Dunkley struck with her first legal delivery, trapping Aylish Cranstone lbw for 5 and reducing Surrey to 18-3 in the 5th. Gayatri Gole delivered an economical 6th over for 3 and Dunkley bowled the 7th leaving the visitors on 28-3. Rain again began to fall, and the umpires made the decision to stop play with Gordon on 8 and Gray 5.

As rain continued, the umpires made a last inspection at 6pm and decided if there was no more rain Middlesex would soon start a further reduced five-over innings, requiring 26 to win.

A new opening partnership in Naomi Dattani and Amara Carr opened the batting. What appeared to be a comfortable chase soon became a challenge. Carr was stumped off the first ball of the second over for 1 as the scoreboard read 3-1, with Surrey skipper Hannah Jones claiming her first on the hallowed turf. Dunkley faced just one ball before she suffered the same fate, Rhianna Southby stumped her for nought as Surrey continued to build the pressure. With the required run rate climbing, Dattani looked to hit out and timed the ball well - but straight to mid-on, with Smith picking up her first wicket at Lord's. At the end of the over, Middlesex were 6-3 as a score of 26 looked some distance away. Cordelia Griffith and captain Natasha Miles batted well together, taking the singles on offer and alert to run on wides or overthrows when possible. After four overs Middlesex were 18-3, needing 8 off the last over.

Jones took on the captain's duty to bowl the final over and struck immediately as Griffith was smartly stumped for 2. Miles was joined by Bell as the pair faced a tough task to retain the London Cup and win the first women’s county match at Lord’s. Bell hit the fourth ball of the over to ease the pressure with just 2 off 2 required. The pair hit a single apiece to claim a 6 wicket win, and the trophy. Miles and Bell finished on 8 and 6 respectively.

After their fifth London Cup victory, Miles spoke about the significance of the match, ‘It couldn’t have been a better occasion. To have a London derby here at Lord's at home, is particularly special.’

Contributed by Georgia Isaac, Middlesex Women’s Media Assistant.