A Night to Remember at Radlett
There are performances that define a season, and Luke Hollman's unbeaten 83 against Durham in the One-Day Cup semi-final at Radlett is firmly one of them. Middlesex, teetering on the brink of elimination at 145-7 with just 30 overs gone in their chase of 255, somehow found a way through — and Hollman was at the absolute heart of it. The result sends Middlesex to their first List A final in 36 years, a remarkable milestone for a county with such proud one-day heritage. For anyone who had backed them at the outset of this competition, this is a very welcome development — and you'd expect their outright odds to shorten considerably ahead of the Trent Bridge showdown.
The Scorecard
Durham: 254-7 (50 overs) — Rhodes 80, Ackermann 71*; Hollman 3-53, Sharma 2wkts, Gohar 2wkts
Middlesex: 255-8 (48.4 overs) — Hollman 83*, Fernandes 44, Helm 40; Ackermann 3-46
Result: Middlesex won by two wickets
How Middlesex Clawed It Back
Durham had set a competitive target, with Will Rhodes leading the way on 80 before Hollman had him caught and bowled to peg them back. Colin Ackermann proved the thorn in Middlesex's side throughout, chipping in with an unbeaten 71 lower down the order before switching to the ball and ripping out three wickets — including opener Nathan Fernandes for a well-made 44 — to leave the hosts in serious trouble. With Ben Stokes returning to the attack late in the Middlesex innings, the situation looked dire. Yet Stokes could only claim the one early scalp of Josh de Caires and proved unable to break through again when it mattered most.
What followed was the stuff of county cricket folklore. Hollman, batting at seven, combined with Tom Helm in a match-turning stand worth 79 runs. Helm contributed a vital 40 before departing, but Hollman remained unruffled, guiding Middlesex home with his previous List A best of 77 not out now firmly surpassed. It was a performance brimming with composure and skill from a young cricketer who clearly thrives under pressure.
Hollman's Complete Performance
What elevates this display beyond a simple batting rescue act is the fact that Hollman had already delivered with the ball, claiming 3-53 in his spell. Two of those wickets came via caught and bowled chances — a mark of an alert, thinking cricketer — alongside the crucial dismissal of Rhodes. Naavya Sharma and Zafar Gohar chipped in with two wickets apiece to ensure Durham were kept to a chaseable total. Hollman's all-round contribution on the day was, quite simply, exceptional.
What Lies Ahead
Middlesex will now face Leicestershire in the final at Trent Bridge on Sunday, 20 September. The Foxes secured their own place in the decider by defeating Notts Outlaws by 23 runs in the other semi-final. It promises to be a fascinating contest between two counties who have earned their day in the sun. From a betting perspective, this final is wide open, and Middlesex's momentum — built largely on the shoulders of a genuinely exciting young talent in Hollman — could prove decisive. As a former coach, I'd tell you that what Hollman showed at Radlett isn't just form; it's character. And that's the hardest thing of all to coach.
