• Feroze Khushi brought his Second XI form to the Essex first team.
• Scoring his first Vitality Blast half-century to help Essex beat Middlesex by 61 runs.
• Middlesex were bowled out for 125

Feroze Khushi brought his Second XI form to the Essex first team. Scoring his first Vitality Blast half-century to help Essex beat Middlesex by 61 runs.

Batter Khushi averaged 91 in the Second XI T20 competition with three scores over 70 and continued that run with a stylish 67 at Chelmsford’s Cloud County Ground.

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Paul Walter added 58 not out as the Eagles set 187, before Matt Critchley added 3 for 22 to his Blast tally of 12 scalps and Sam Cook returned a magnificent 3 for 18. Middlesex were bowled out for 125, extending their losing streak to five games.

Khushi’s ball-striking ability was exceptional, but he was assisted by three people. Before he could get off the mark, John Simpson shelled a simple catch before being dropped on 36 and 40. In fact, Middlesex’s general fielding performance will have disappointed head coach Richard Johnson, with Michael Pepper also performing poorly.

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Khushi eased into his work, with Adam Rossington, Pepper, and Matt Critchley all departing after being put in on the powerplay, but found boundaries thanks to his strong wrist work. He hit a pair of sixes into the Hayes Close End after reaching a 33-ball fifty, one of which landed on the roof of one of the houses.

As Essex kept 186 for 6, Martin Andersson took 3 for 42, including a wicked yorker to bowl Westley.