Caught and bowled off an Andre Adams no ball when 14, Shah made the most of some deserved fortune to pummel a magnificent 79 including seven sixes. He added 100 for the first wicket with the excellent Ed Smith (37), before a late cameo from Irfan Pathan enabled Middlesex to reach the heights of 185-6 after 20 overs. Man of the match Shah now has 325 runs in six innings, and with an incredible 19 maximums he also leads the race to win £1500 for the most six hits in the competition.

The Crusaders’ innings had been played out in persistent drizzle, no doubt making life difficult for the Eagles in the field, but credit has to go to umpires Steele and Bailey for persevering in the face of ever increasing gloom.

Although Shah’s contribution was invaluable, it might also be suggested that Pathan had a decent shout for the match award. He undid Essex’s top order and ended with tremendous figures of 4-27. First to go was Alistair Cook, pouched by Styris at cover, before Ronnie Irani saw his stumps splattered and Ravinder Bopara, after a promising start for the Eagles, was trapped leg-before by a beautiful inswinger.

And when Styris (an economical 2-20) got in on the act, crucially having the dangerous Andy Flower caught behind and bowling Mark Pettini, the Eagles were in complete disarray at 45-5 in the eighth over.

After Middlebrook charged Dalrymple and was easily stumped, James Foster and Andre Adams did enough to give Essex the slimmest of chances with some aggressive batting. Foster looked majestic at times and closed unbeaten on 62, but any hope for Essex went when Adams was brilliantly caught by Hutton running backwards from cover. 94 from the last six overs was always going to be unlikely, especially in poor light, and Middlesex were comfortable winners by a healthy margin of 31 runs.

With matches at Sussex and at home to Hampshire to come, it is probable that one victory will be enough to see Middlesex through to the knockout stages. Nevertheless, the Crusaders’ progress is certainly not cut and dried just yet, and Sussex’s win over Hampshire means the Sharks still have a realistic chance of qualification themselves. Monday’s day-night fixture at Hove could thus be crucial as the South Division enters its final week.

Please click here for the scorecard for this match

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