Middlesex end prolonged trophy drought as Roland-Jones leads charge

Roland-Jones produced a remarkable ten-over spell at the top of Leicestershire’s chase, finishing with figures of 3 for 27 to guide Middlesex to a 31-run victory. The triumph may not resolve all the club’s off-field issues, but it showcased the resilience still present within the playing squad.

“It means a tremendous amount,” Roland-Jones told Sky Sports. “Days like this, with the crowd behind you… it’s been a while since I’ve experienced that kind of atmosphere. It brings out the best in me most of the time.”

“We’ve played some outstanding cricket throughout this tournament. Today was the perfect reflection of what we’ve done in every game. At times we looked finished, at times we were in control, but we kept finding ways to take wickets.”

“Bowling all ten overs off the reel is tougher than it sounds, I’ll admit,” Roland-Jones added. “But it’s something I’ve done occasionally this tournament. My skills seem best suited to the new ball phase, and we have players better equipped to finish the job. It worked out perfectly today.”

At 38, Roland-Jones might not recall Middlesex’s previous List A victory at Lord’s in September 1990, but none of his teammates were alive for that triumph. With five squad members under 20, including new-ball partner Naavya Sharma, memories of the Championship win over Yorkshire are equally faint.

“Navi Sharma bowled brilliantly,” Roland-Jones praised after Sharma claimed the title-winning wicket of Tom Scriven, ending with 3 for 37 and leading wicket-taker honors in the competition with 20. “Such an exciting talent. He keeps me feeling young, and I hope this isn’t my final spell—fingers crossed I can continue.”

Ryan Higgins’ fighting century proved crucial, powering Middlesex to 231 in their first innings. Most of his runs came in a sixth-wicket partnership of 137 with Harry Duke after the side collapsed to 71 for 5. Leicestershire’s Nick Kelly matched the effort with his own hundred, but lacked comparable support.

“It has to rank among my best,” Higgins said at the presentations. “Scoring that in a final means everything. I tend to get ahead of myself, but Dukey kept me grounded and ensured I kept going deep. We wavered a bit at the end—looking at 250, 260—but it worked out.”

The victory arrives after a difficult year for Middlesex, whose long-term future remains uncertain following a wave of senior management departures. The team fell short of Championship promotion, but white-ball captain Ben Geddes found consolation in silverware.

“We’re a resilient bunch,” Geddes stated. “As players, we try to set everything aside and focus on the task. We go out and give our best, leaving all the noise behind.”

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