Bowler clinches tense Natwest T20 Blast win

Middlesex matchwinner Tom Helm revealed key advice from captain Eoin Morgan helped him clinch Natwest T20 Blast success against Sussex at Lord’s.

Helm restricted the visitors to just three runs from the final over of the South Group match to seal a two-run triumph for Morgan’s men, who had made 147-6 from their 20 overs.

And he said: “There were a few things going through my mind at the start of the last over but Eoin Morgan was at mid-off and told me to bowl six slower balls and fortunately that’s what I managed to do.

“It pretty much went to plan. They only laid bat on ball once and I knew that as long as I didn’t bowl a wide off the last ball that it wouldn’t go to the boundary and that’s what happened.

“That’s the sort of situation you play for. I can’t say I wasn’t nervous at the start but I held my nerve and it is a special moment.

“It keeps us in contention for the quarter-finals. We might still have to win our last three games but if we can get a run together then who knows.”

Paul Stirling made 40 at the top of the Middlesex order, with Steve Eskinazi finishing unbeaten on 57 from 44 balls.

Sussex were 77-2 at the midway mark of their reply, after Chris Nash put on 56 with Stiaan van Zyl (34).

Nash fell for 69 to leave them 135-6, with 15 balls remaining, and Tim Southee dismissed Chris Jordan in the penultimate over and Helm claiming Jofra Archer with the third ball of the last over.

Sussex coach Mark Davis said: “It is very disappointing because we played really strong cricket for four-fifths of that game and were on top.

“We weren’t smart enough with the bat, with the exception of Chris Nash who played really well again.

“On pitches like that which was slow with the ball stopping in the wicket you have to get bat on ball. If we’d done that we would have cruised to victory.

“We’ve still got a chance of getting into the top four but we probably need to win our last three, starting against Gloucestershire.”

Middlesex will look to maintain their own push for the quarter-finals when they visit Essex on Friday night (7pm).