TAUNTON (Somerset won toss): Middlesex Crusaders (4pts) beat Somerset Sabres by 57 runs (D/L method)
ANDREW STRAUSS, unlike the centrally contracted Marcus Trescothick, was able to play county cricket last night, and relished doing so. He made 68 off 78 balls, with seven fours and a six, to enable Middlesex to gain what looked to be a straightforward victory over Somerset. They need to win their final match to make certain of becoming second division champions. Strauss and Paul Weekes added 143 for the second wicket in 26 overs, straight-driving the spinners to good effect. Weekes was unbeaten with 76 when the players came off for rain with 27 runs still needed.
Somerset, lacking James Hildreth and playing two many extravagant shots for their own good, struggled to make a total of any magnitude in customary decent batting conditions. They lost their first five wickets for 94 and continued to struggle after the lights were turned on, finally mustering 179.
Jamie Cox, back in the side now that Ricky Ponting has departed for ICC Champions Trophy warm-up matches in the Netherlands, made 42.
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SOMERSET
*M Burns c Scott b Clark 7
J D Francis run out 12
J Cox b Dalrymple 42
K A Parsons b Cook 2
I D Blackwell b Betts 13
M J Wood run out 44
K P Dutch c Dalrymple b Hayward 17
C M Gazzard c Scott b Betts 12
G M Andrew c Scott b Betts 2
R L Johnson c Weekes b Hayward 17
S R G Francis not out 0
Extras (lb 4, w 5, nb 2) 11
Total (39.3 overs) 179
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-20, 2-27, 3-34, 4-68, 5-94, 6-122, 7-147, 8-152, 9-177.
BOWLING: Clark 7.3-1-30-1; Cook 7-0-34-1; Hayward 8-0-54-2; Betts 9-2-23-3; Dalrymple 6-0-23-1; Weekes 2-0-11-0.
MIDDLESEX
P N Weekes not out 76
B L Hutton lbw b Johnson 0
A J Strauss lbw b Dutch 68
O A Shah not out 2
Extras (lb 1, w 6) 7
Total (2 wkts, 28 overs) 153
*E C Joyce, J W M Dalrymple, S J Cook, M M Betts, S R Clark, M Hayward and B J M Scott to bat.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1, 2-144.
BOWLING: Johnson 8-1-38-1; S R G Francis 6-0-44-0; Andrew 3-0-15-0; Dutch 7-0-24-1; Blackwell 4-0-31-0.
Umpires: A Clarkson and P J Hartley.