One-Day Cup, men’s semi-final, Radlett
Middlesex 255-8 (48.4 overs): Hollman 83*, Fernandes 44, Helm 40; Ackermann 3-46
Durham 254-7 (50 overs): Rhodes 80, Ackermann 71*; Hollman 3-53
Middlesex beat Durham by two wickets
Luke Hollman scored a sensational unbeaten 83 to help Middlesex stun Durham with a two-wicket win in their One-Day Cup semi-final at Radlett to reach their first List A decider since 1990.
Middlesex will face Leicestershire in the final at Trent Bridge on Sunday, 20 September, after the Foxes beat Notts Outlaws by 23 runs in their last-four meeting.
Hollman put on a List A best showing with the bat as Middlesex’s tailend turned the match around when struggling at 145-7 after 30 overs as they chased 255 for victory.
It was at that point that Hollman was joined at the crease by Tom Helm, who contributed 40 to their 79-run partnership that changed the complexion of the showdown.
Before that, it had seemed that Colin Ackermann, who had already starred with the bat for Durham with an unbeaten 71, had put his team in control when he snagged three quick wickets – including the scalp of opener Nathan Fernandes for 44.
While former England captain Ben Stokes re-joined Durham’s bowling attack late on, he failed to add to the solitary early wicket of Josh de Caires as Middlesex saw out a milestone victory in which Hollman also delivered with the ball.
The spin bowler took 3-53, which included two caught and bowled and the scalp of Durham’s top scorer Will Rhodes for 80, while Naavya Sharma and Zafar Gohar took two wickets apiece to limit Durham to 254-7.
