Worcestershire Seconds went down by five wickets to their Middlesex counterparts in the semi-finals of the Second Eleven Trophy competition at Radlett today.
George Rhodes and Ryan Gibson hit half centuries as the Seconds were bowled out for 164 in 36.1 overs.
They made the home side work hard for their runs in reply and two wickets from Pat Brown and Rhodes helped reduce them to 104-5.
But an unbroken stand of 64 between Tom Lace and James Fuller saw Middlesex to victory with 11 overs to spare.
Worcestershire, appearing in their first semi-final since 2004, can reflect on a successful campaign of 50 overs cricket in which they won four of their six group games.
The visitors lost skipper Ollie Westbury for nought but then Rhodes and Tom Fell (20) added 57 in 10.4 overs for the second wicket before the latter holed out to deep mid wicket.
Four wickets then went down for 13 runs to leave the Seconds on 75-5 before Rhodes and Gibson steadied proceedings with a stand of 44.
Rhodes, who went to his half century off 60 balls with seven fours, was sixth out at 119, caught by Middlesex captain George Scott at mid on for 58.
But no-one was able to give much lower order support to Gibson who ended unbeaten on exactly 50 after clocking up his half century from 52 deliveries with one six and five fours.
Brown struck an instant blow for the Seconds when Scott (0) was caught by Ross Whiteley at first slip.
Dillon Pennington then had Robbie White (14) caught behind at 28-2.
The Seconds continued to chip away with Rhodes bowling former England Under-19 captain Max Holden (40) and then having New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin (21) pouched by Whiteley – again at first slip.
Brown returned to have Jack Davies (10) caught behind but then Lace (39 not out) and ex Gloucestershire paceman Fuller (42 not out) saw Middlesex to victory.
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WORCESTERSHIRE SECONDS
Rhodes c Scott b Walallawita 58
Westbury* c RG White b JK Fuller 0
Fell c MDE Holden b JEC Franklin 20
Dell c RG White b JEC Franklin 4
Whiteley c RG White b NA Sowter 1
Imtiaz+ Lbw b NA Sowter 0
Gibson not out 50
Twohig st RG White b TN Walallawita 11
Ul-Hassan Lbw b OP Rayner 2
Pennington Lbw b NA Sowter 0
Brown Lbw b JK Fuller 5
Extras 13
Total (all out) 164 in 36.1 overs
FOW: 5, 62, 74, 75, 119, 149, 152, 153, 164
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BOWLING
JK Fuller 6.1 1 33 2
TE Barber 7.0 0 41 0
JEC Franklin 5.0 0 15 2
NA Sowter 7.0 0 23 3
TN Walallawita 6.0 0 28 2
OP Rayner 5.0 0 18 1
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MIDDLESEX SECONDS
Scott* c RA Whiteley b PR Brown 0
Holden b GH Rhodes 40
White+ c SM Imtiaz b DY Pennington 14
Franklin c RA Whiteley b GH Rhodes 21
Lace not out 39
Davies c SM Imtiaz b PR Brown 10
Fuller not out 42
Extras 2
Total (for 5 wickets) 168 in 39 overs
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FOW: 0, 24, 68, 81, 104
BOWLING
Brown 10-1-44-2
Pennington 4-1-22-1
Ul-Hassan 6-0-20-0
Rhodes 10-0-40-2
Twohig 9-0-42-0
