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NatWest T20 Blast: Middlesex beat Somerset by four runs at Lord's

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Dawid Malan hit 53 as Middlesex beat Somerset by four runs in a rain-restricted nine overs match

Middlesex beat Somerset by four runs in a nine-over match at Lord's to improve their hopes of progress in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Recent England call-up Dawid Malan played a starring role for the home side, who were thankful to hard-working groundstaff for getting any length of game on after torrential rain hit London.

Umpires eventually gave a reduced-overs game just after 8pm and captain Malan soon set about the Somerset attack as he dominated a 35-run opening partnership with Brendon McCullum.

McCullum became the first of three quick wickets to fall when he was caught behind for seven off the bowling of Lewis Gregory.

Max Waller accounted for Paul Stirling (1) and, when Roelof van der Merwe bowled James Franklin for a duck, Middlesex were in a spot of trouble.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 23: John Simpson of Middlesex hits a six during the Natwest T20 Blast match between Middlesex and Somerset at Lord's cricket ground
Image: John Simpson also played some big shots for the home side

But Malan hit two fours and four sixes in a 28-ball innings of 53 and he got plenty of support from wicket-keeper John Simpson, who smashed 26 off only 12 balls to help Middlesex to 92-3.

Somerset's reply started strongly with Johann Myburgh (12) and James Allenby (17) adding 29 for the first wicket off 16 balls, but both would fall to the bowling of James Fuller before the end of the second over.

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From 29-0 they then slipped to 30-3 with Mahela Jayawardene dismissed by Franklin for a first-ball duck.

The dangerous Peter Trego hit three fours in the six deliveries he faced, but once Nathan Sowter dismissed him for 14 Somerset's required run rate started to creep up.

They needed 13 off the last over, but Steven Finn accounted for big-hitting Jamie Overton (9) and the six required to win off the last ball, faced by Craig Overton, was not forthcoming.

Victory takes Middlesex above Somerset into fifth in the South Group on run-rate but Somerset have played two more games.

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