Sam Robson produced one of the finest innings in English domestic cricket history, scoring an unbeaten 169 to lead Middlesex to the highest successful List A run chase ever recorded in England. The visitors chased down Durham’s massive 387-run target with five wickets and two overs to spare at the Riverside ground on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old former England Test opener anchored the record-breaking chase with a masterful display, hitting 19 fours and two sixes from just 139 balls. His knock helped Middlesex surpass the previous English record of 377, set by Worcestershire against Leicestershire in 2018.

Durham’s Batting Fireworks Go in Vain

Durham had set up what looked like an insurmountable target after captain Alex Lees (138 not out) and David Bedingham (107) put on a spectacular show. The home side posted 387 for 4, their highest-ever total at the Riverside in this format.

Lees batted through the innings with controlled aggression, while South African Bedingham was more explosive, smashing eight sixes in his 67-ball century. Colin Ackermann’s quickfire 53 off 27 balls gave Durham additional momentum. Remarkably, Lees became the first Durham player to score centuries across all three formats in a single season.
 

Record Chase Unfolds

Despite losing Joe Cracknell early, Middlesex never let the required rate spiral out of control. Robson found able partners throughout the innings. Josh De Caires contributed a vital 63 off 48 balls in a 120-run second-wicket stand. Jack Davies chipped in with 61 from 42 deliveries.

The crucial partnership came between Robson and Luke Hollman, who added 103 runs for the sixth wicket. Hollman’s 47 kept the scoreboard ticking while Robson accelerated towards the finish line.

With 10 overs remaining, Middlesex needed 78 runs. Robson shifted gears magnificently, finding boundaries at will to seal a memorable victory. His 169 not out is now Middlesex’s second-highest individual List A score.

This remarkable win keeps Middlesex’s hopes alive for a top-three finish in Group B of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. For Durham, it was a harsh lesson that no total is safe in modern limited-overs cricket, especially when batsmen like Robson are in such sublime touch.