Middlesex humbles Australia

By P. Subramanyam

LONDON, JUNE 6. The touring Australian side, preparing for the NatWest triangular one-day series with England and Pakistan starting this weekend, was jolted from its reverie by the Middlesex County Cricket Club when the latter recorded a six- wicket win in a one-day fixture at Lord's on Tuesday afternoon.

The Aussies were unconvincing against a second division side of mediocre standard in the county championship league table. Moreover Middlesex fielded a depleted side without the services of former England players Angus Fraser, Phil Tufnell and its overseas recruit, New Zealand's Stephen Fleming.

Put into bat Australia fared badly losing six wickets for only 108 in 20 overs. But for opener Ricky Ponting (57, 47b, twelve 4s) and some resolute rearguard action by Ian Harvey (84, 65b, one 6, nine 4s) and tailender Jason Gillespie (19 not out), who added 75 invaluable runs for the ninth wicket, Australia would have been in a sorry state in front of nearly 6,000 spectators. The Aussies failed to utilise their full quota of overs and were dismissed for 232 in 44.2 overs. For Middlesex stand-in skipper and off-spinner P.N. Weeks (three for 36) and S.J. Cook (three for 39) shared the bowling honours.

The Middlesex openers B.L. Hutton, grandson of the famous Len Hutton of Yorkshire, and A.J. Strauss attacked a wayward Australian attack to add 33 runs in as many minutes. After Strauss departed, O.A. Shah, who has scored well over 700 runs for Middlesex in the month of May, joined Hutton. These two played with total, essaying brilliant strokes all around the wicket to add 113 for the second wicket in just one hundred minutes and laid the foundation for a victory.

Owais Shah (50, 72b, four 4s) was the first to depart followed by Hutton (73, 105b, six 4s), who was unfortunately run out. The duo batted so well that the Australian attack comprising the much- talked off fast bowler N. Bracken, spinner Shane Warne and medium pacer Gillespie looked totally insipid. Middlesex scored the required runs with three overs to spare.

* The scores: Australia 232 in 44.2 overs (Ian Harvey 84, Ricky Ponting 57, P.N. Weeks three for 36, S.J. Cook three for 39) lost to Middlesex CC 233 for four in 47.1 overs (Ben Hutton 73, Owais Shah 50).

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