Captain Stephen Eskinazi played through the innings to score 94* but Middlesex slipped to an eight straight defeat nonetheless at the 2023 T20 Blast. In pursuit of 181 at Lord’s, the hosts were in fine fettle to register their first win of the season with Eskinazi ensuring a 60-run PowerPlay and then taking them withing touching distance of the target. However, Middlesex fluffed their lines rom towards the end with Tymal Mills defending 12 off the final over to provide Sussex only their second win of the season, breaking a pattern of four straight losses.
Earlier, Middlesex had clawed back into the game with the ball to keep the visitors down when a bigger total seemed likely. Shadab Khan badgered a quickfire 59 but once he departed, the hosts pulled things back adroitly to concede only 31 from the last four overs.
Brief scores: Sussex 181/8 in 20 overs (Shadab Khan 59, Tom Clark 39; Luke Hollman 2-30) beat Middlesex 177/5 in 20 overs (Stephen Eskinazi 94*; Nathan McAndrew 2-34) by 4 runs
His team fell just short, but what a magnificent effort by Stephen Eskinazi 👏
94 from 62 balls and it included some breathtaking shots#Blast23 pic.twitter.com/s4qu8fXgFf
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 9, 2023
