Olivia Rae sizzles with fifty for Middlesex against Surrey before rain forces abandonment

Opting to ball first at the toss, Hannah Jones’ choice was vindicated after she dismissed Cordelia Griffith LBW for 12 early in the piece. Middlesex had mustered only 32 runs at that stage and soon lost skipper Naomi Dattani for 29 and Amara Carr (four) in quick succession. Three for 58 became four for 74 as Natasha Miles was shown the way to the dressing room by Alice Capsey, who finished with an economical two for 20 in her quota.

However, Iqraa Hussain got together with Olivia Rae and kept the Surrey bowlers at bay. The duo added 35 runs before the former became Capsey’s second victim. But the experienced Rae continued to motor on, despite not having a steady partner for long at the other end.

Rae completed her half century after a brief halt due to rain. She took 87 balls to get to the mark and it was her second successive half ton. But a splendid, stunning catch by teenager Capsey saw her back for 56. That hastened Middlesex’s end, who were bowled out for 181. Beth Kerins and Claudie Cooper picked three wickets apiece.

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Surrey’s chase didn’t get to the best of starts. After hitting three fours, Kirstie White was the first to fall, dismissed for 14 off Kate Coppack. On the very next ball, Aylish Cranstone was cleaned up to leave them tottering at two for 23. Jones then walked out to the middle and hit a four before it poured down with Surrey at two for 30 in nine overs.

However, incessant rain meant that there was no further play possible and the match was abandoned with one over away from a stage where the Duckworth Lewis Stern method could have been used to decide a winner.

Brief Scores: Middlesex 181 all out in 49.2 overs (Olivia Rae 56, Naomi Dattani 29; Beth Kerins 3/24, Claudie Cooper 3/25) versus Surrey 30/2 in 9 overs (Kirstie White 14; Kate Coppack 2/19). No result.