Weekes heroics again in vain

Northamptonshire 261 for 6 (45 overs, Shafayat 85, White 57, Love 56) beat Middlesex 247 for 9 ( Weekes 111, by 14 runs
Scorecard
Points table

Paul Weekes: 111 in a losing cause © Getty Images

A battling hundred from Paul Weekes was not enough to give Middlesex victory over Northamptonshire, a result which effectively ends their chances of catching leaders Essex as well as easing Northamptonshire's relegation fears.

Middlesex were always off the pace once Martin Love (56) and Robert White (57) had posted a first-wicket stand of 117, and then Bilal Shafayat smashed 85 off 46 balls to guide Northants to a daunting 261 for 6.

Weekes anchored Middlesex's response, and with Ed Smith (42) got the innings off to a good start with a stand of 105. When these two sides met at Lord's in the C&G Trophy earlier in the season, Weekes scored 105 (and, coincidently, Smith 42) only for Middlesex to fall away in the closing overs, losing their last six wickets for eight runs.

This game followed a similar pattern as the dismissal of Ed Joyce triggered a collapse in which Middlesex lost six wickets for 38, and with it their momentum.