Middlesex pull off third-highest List A chase thanks to Sam Robson century

Durham hit their highest home total in the format, thanks to centurions Alex Lees and David Bedingham, but ended up on the losing side in dramatic circumstances

ECB Reporters Network | 13/08/2025 at 18:48

Chester-le-Street: Durham 387-4, Middlesex 390-5 - Middlesex won by five wickets

Sam Robson's stunning career best 169 not out off 139 balls helped Middlesex chase 388 - the highest ever successful List A chase in England and third biggest in history - to beat Durham by five wickets in a thrilling One Day Cup clash at the Riverside.

Durham pair Alex Lees and David Bedingham hit contrasting centuries in their imposing 387 for 4.

Having been inserted, it was the county's highest-ever home total in this format.

Captain and opener Lees batted through for 138 not out off 132 balls, and South African overseas Bedingham blazed 107 off 67 with eight sixes. But it wasn't enough to prevent a second defeat in four Group B matches.

Robson, like Lees, batted with controlled aggression and was the cornerstone of a remarkable chase in perfect batting conditions, achieved in 48 overs. Middlesex won their second game in three to boost hopes of a top-three finish.

A handful of counties have posted higher second-innings totals in List A matches, but no one had bettered Worcestershire's successful pursuit of 377 to beat Leicestershire at New Road in 2018. Until today.

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^{Alex Lees celebrates his century (Mark Fletcher)}

Lees' innings included him becoming the first Durham player to score centuries in the County Championship, T20 Blast and One Day Cup in the same season.

However, Lees got there off 106 balls, followed by Bedingham's off 65.

Colin Ackermann then crashed 53 off 27 balls to give Durham the advantage at halfway. From 2 for 1, Robson and Josh De Caires advanced in a dynamic fashion for Middlesex by sharing 120 inside 16 overs.

Former England Test opener Robson, aged 36, was strong on both sides of the wicket without hitting a six until his side neared 300.

The right-hander reached his fourth career century off 89 balls, by which time Middlesex were 237 for 3 in the 33rd over. Robson was in the midst of a 114-run partnership with Jack Davies.

With 10 overs left, Middlesex need 78, and Hollman contributed 47 to a near match-sealing partnership of 103 with Robson, who hit 19 fours and two sixes to record his county's second-highest List A individual score.