LANCS CRASH IN CUP AFTER EXTRAORDINARY

NATHAN Fernandes’ brilliant 92 off 79 balls helped Middlesex conjure an extraordinary one-wicket win over Lancashire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, a result that also ensures the visitors qualified for the quarterfinals of the competition.

- ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Coming to the wicket with his side in the toils on 105 for five and needing another 186 runs, Fernandes put on 126 for the seventh wicket with Seb Morgan and despite being caught on the boundary in the final over, went on watch Noah Cornwell clinch the victory.

Part-time off-spinner Harry Singh had earlier taken a career-best four for 27 and it seemed the visitors' chances were gone when they were 127 for six, despite Josh de Caires 50. But their hopes were raised in dramatic fashion late in the game by Fernandes and Morgan, whose fearless batting inspired a quite wonderful victory for their team.