Middlesex 354 for 8 (Cracknell 128, Fernandes 92, Munt 4-90) beat Sussex 262 (Simpson 65, Carter 58, Morgan 4-46) by 92 runs
Half-centuries by former Middlesex man John Simpson (65 from 60) and Oli Carter (58 from 67) enabled the Sharks to mount a good reply, however they had been dismissed for 262 to finish their marketing campaign backside of Group B with only one win.
Sebastian Morgan took 4 for 46 for group winners Middlesex, who will now host both Lancashire or Durham in Sunday’s semi-final on the similar venue.
Put in to bat, Middlesex discovered themselves in early difficulties when Toby Munt struck twice – conceding successive boundaries to Josh de Caires earlier than delivering the perfect response, a magnificence that took out his off stump.
With Ben Geddes slashing to slide in Munt’s subsequent over, the house aspect had been 20 for two – however they by no means seemed again as Cracknell and Fernandes proceeded to build up at a gradual price.
Cracknell was the extra aggressive of the pair, utilising the pull shot to good impact as he dispatched Dan Ibrahim for the primary six of the sport and reached 50 at a run a ball, whereas Fernandes adopted go well with simply after drinks.
The left-hander promptly stepped up the tempo, hitting Troy Henry for 3 successive fours – however the spinner had the ultimate say, eradicating Fernandes courtesy of Freddie Value’s wonderful diving catch on the run at long-on.
By then, Cracknell had handed his 87-ball century and, though he and Luke Hollman departed in fast succession, the baton was seized by Aaryan Sawant (25 from 14), cracking a trio of consecutive maximums off Freddie Value.
Eathan Bosch launched a cruel final-over assault in opposition to Munt, hammering 33 from simply 10 deliveries to propel his aspect past 350 and Sussex had been quickly underneath strain in pursuit of the goal.
Charlie Tear, dropped at gully within the second over, reached 15 earlier than Morgan had him caught within the slips whereas Noah Cornwell’s constant opening spell introduced the wickets of Ibrahim and Jack Leaning.
Carter saved up the battle, surviving an opportunity to slide off Zafar Gohar and capitalising as he drove the spinner for six, then punched a canopy boundary to carry up his first half-century of the match.
When Carter swept Hollman down the throat of deep sq. leg, the Sharks shortly sank to 120 for six – however any prospects of an early end had been dispelled by a spirited partnership of 73 between Simpson and Value value 37 from 31.
Munt additionally swung the bat, smashing three sixes in his 26 from 25 earlier than Morgan claimed the final two wickets to wrap up Middlesex’s victory.