Simon Harmer’s incredible 9-95 in the second innings against Middlesex led Essex to a dramatic final-over victory on Thursday.
It’s been a sensational run for the former Protea. If his career-best match figures of 14-128 against Warwickshire wasn’t enough, he then went and did it again with 14-172 against Middlesex to extend his side’s lead at the top of the Division One standings.
To put it in perspective, 14-wicket hauls have only been achieved 18 times in South African first-class cricket. He’s gone and done it twice in a row in England. It was also his fourth five-wicket haul in an innings in a row.
In the first round of day-night matches in County Championship history, Harmer took 5-77 in the first innings as Middlesex were bowled out for 246. Centuries from Alastair Cook and Nick Browne then took the side to 542-3 declared.
The match went to the wire, as defending County champions Middlesex appeared to be holding on for the draw as they saw out 111 overs. Harmer had taken eight of the nine wickets going into the final over, and four balls into it Harmer had his man, trapping Steven Finn lbw to finish with figures of 9-95 from 46.4 overs, and with that the victory.
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