Shah Stars As Middlesex Down Somerset

Shah - stole the show.

Owais Shah hit a superb 96 to help Middlesex Crusaders claim a 43-run victory over Somerset Sabres in tonight's Pro40 clash at Lord's.

With the hosts struggling on 50 for five Shah, omitted from England's 13-man squad for the fourth Test against South Africa starting at The Oval on Thursday, played a composed innings to help his side reach 203 for nine.

Marcus Trescothick raced to 40 off 35 balls in reply - but after he was dismissed by Tyron Henderson, spinners Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik tore through the Sabres' batting line-up to dismiss the visitors for 160 with with 17 balls to spare.

Somerset put their hosts in, and Charl Willoughby had Ed Joyce caught at point in the third over; then in the seventh, Eoin Morgan edged behind.

In between those two dismissals, Peter Trego took a return catch to see off Billy Godleman.

Willoughby finished with three for 26, trapping Dawid Malan lbw - before Henderson and Shah launched the Middlesex fightback.

Henderson scored 50 from just 24 balls, 42 in boundaries, before he was bowled by Arul Suppiah.

Shah brought up his half century from 68 balls with a drive to the cover boundary - and upped the ante to take 16 off the last over, including his only six and two of his eight fours.

Chasing 204, Somerset lost Justin Langer in the fourth over but were going well on 62 for one before the loss of Trescothick to Henderson.

Udal bowled James Hildreth and four overs later had Trego stumped. In between, Kartik clipped Zander de Bruyn's off bail.

The two spinners kept the pressure on, and Somerset were struggling on 103 for seven by the 27th over.

The Sabres took the total to 148 before the eighth fell, Shah taking a catch at deep midwicket to dismiss Omari Banks.