A magnificent innings from Middlesex’s number four, Eoin Morgan, was the difference between the two sides this afternoon with the Crusaders cruising to a six wickets victory with ten balls to spare.

Morgan joined Owais Shah, with his side in some trouble on 23 for two after Matthew Nicholson and Mohammad Akram had picked up a wicket each to knock over Middlesex’s two openers.

The pair played with caution to see off some very good new ball bowling and seemed to be struggling to change gears, until the left handed Morgan struck a six and a four from Rikki Clarke’s first over. This gave Middlesex the impetus that was needed and having drifted 20 runs behind the required score they were soon up with and past it.

When Shah went shortly after reaching fifty, Surrey were given an opportunity to squeeze one end but this proved difficult as the bowlers struggled to avoid falling victim to the very short boundary on one side. The new man Jaime Darlymple soon got himself up to speed and as Morgan raced past his fifty and up into the nineties, there was only going to be one winner.

It mattered not that Morgan was out four short of what would have been a fantastic century because Nick Compton came in to finish the job and support Dalrymple who ended not out 54.

Mark Butcher had one the toss and batted first with the thought of getting the best out of a used wicket. After a quiet start, Scott Newman and James Benning opened out to get the scoring rate up. Newman’s innings of promise was cut short when he attempted to go over mid-on but failed to get the elevation.

With the score 26 for one, Butcher came out to join Benning and looked in incredible touch as he manoeuvred the ball around the park. He kept playing his game, whilst having a good partnership with first Benning and then Clarke. The problem for Surrey seemed to be that they lost wickets just as they were getting themselves on top.

Butcher went to his half century but fell immediately after with the score 151 for four. Ali Brown however cracked on from where Butcher had left off and took the Brown Caps into a great position to strike with plenty of overs still in hand.

Nevertheless any chance of this assault was destroyed when Murali Kartik had the Surrey danger man bowled for a rapid 34 from just 25 balls. It was only thanks to some late striking from Nicholson, including 18 in the last over, that Surrey got up to 238 from their 40 overs.

Although they got off to a good start with the ball Surrey never recovered from the middle sector of the innings, where Shah, Morgan and Dalrymple really got to work. A huge positive for the Brown Caps however, was the performance of debutant, Chris Jordan with the ball. The 19 year old picked up one for 43 from his allotted overs, his first wicket being that of Shah, caught by Nicholson at long leg.

Surrey will now prepare themselves for their vital LV County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury starting on Wednesday.

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