County Championship 2022: Middlesex chase down 370 inside 74 overs to record memorable victory over Sussex

Middlesex managed to pull off a stunning victory against Sussex in the County Championship division two game which looked like settling for a draw at one stage. The Peter Handscomb-led side managed to win the game by seven wickets by completing a phenomenal run chase of 370 in just 73.5 overs at a run rate of more than five, thanks to a superlative fourth-wicket partnership between Max Holden and Martin Andersson.

The run chase started on the final day with Mark Stoneman dismissed early for one. However, the likes of Sam Robson and Handscomb stitched a partnership of 209 for the second wicket in relatively quick time. Handscomb was dismissed after a well-made 79 off 142 deliveries with seven fours while Robson went past a scintillating century from the other end. At the 61st over-mark, Robson was removed after a giant knock of 149 off 181 deliveries, and it looked like Middlesex would settle for a draw.

It wasn’t the case as the duo of Holden and Andersson went after the bowling and picked up a lot of boundaries. At the end, Holden remained unbeaten on 80 off just 76 deliveries while a 39-ball 44 from Andersson sealed the deal for the Middlesex side. In fact, it could not have been a better-constructed run chase and it is not often that a team on the final day gets to score a lot of runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s giant knock goes in vain

Earlier in the game, Sussex were bowled out for 392 in the first innings with Tom Alsop scoring a magnificent century while Andersson and Shaheen Afridi both picked up three wickets each. In reply, the Middlesex side got to 358 on the back of four half-centuries while Ollie Robinson picked up a five-wicket haul.

In the second innings, Cheteshwar Pujara played a monumental knock and continued his impressive form in the tournament. The right-hander remained unbeaten on 170 off just 197 deliveries with 22 fours and three sixes while Alsop and Tom Clark scored half-centuries to declare on 335 for 4. However, the decision to declare backfired as some extraordinary batting towards the end ensured a win for Middlesex.