Middlesex benefiting in T20 Blast from shift in mindset, says Dawid Malan

Malan’s side’s second triumph in as many games represents a significant about-turn from the club’s 2018 efforts in the competition, when Middlesex finished bottom of the South Division

Dawid Malan praised the mentality of his Middlesex side after a convincing win over Surrey at The Oval, in which Malan struck an imperious hundred as the visitors secured a 37-run victory.

The left-handed England batsman was in supreme form, pulling, driving and sweeping powerfully en route to a 57-ball 117 as Middlesex exacted revenge on their London rivals after Surrey came out on top in a similarly high-scoring game last year.

This time, however, after Aaron Finch was caught behind early off the bowling of Tom Helm, Surrey found themselves well short as wickets tumbled regularly to Middlesex’s well-balanced and well-considered bowling unit.

Malan’s side’s second triumph in as many games represents a significant about-turn from the club’s 2018 efforts in the competition, when Middlesex finished bottom of the South Division.

His knock was at the forefront of a terrific team display; one six struck by the England man was caught in the crowd by Marimba Odundo Mendez, earning the fan £1,000 after his Kia Catch in the process.

Here, though, Malan was full of admiration for the way in which his charges had altered their approach to the shortest format.

“It is early, but the signs are good,” he said. “Whether we win or lose, the signs are good. The way we are approaching it, they are changing their mindset – if the average score says 150 before the game, we are trying to get 180 to 200.

“The way we are thinking as a bowling unit, we are not just running up and bowling the same ball we’d bowl in four-day cricket, we are changing up what we’re doing.

“We are thinking about what we’re doing, we’re thinking about different batsmen. It doesn’t mean it’s going to work every game, but it means it gives us a better chance of getting the result that we want.”

^{Dawid Malan faced just 57 deliveries in his innings of 117}

In a sense, the fact that the win came without a major contribution from AB de Villiers may well breathe yet more impetus into Middlesex’s campaign – their first under the stewardship of Stuart Law. Daniel Vettori led the side in T20 cricket until the conclusion of the 2018 season.

De Villiers led Middlesex’s successful chase against Essex on Thursday, but here he was adjudged lbw to former South Africa colleague Imran Tahir for just three, though replays suggested he had inside-edged his reverse-sweep onto his pad.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has also impressed since arriving this season. He dismissed the highly-rated Will Jacks in the first over of Surrey’s response, while Surrey’s batsmen noticeably struggled to pick the teenager’s variations.

“It’s nice to get some wins under the belt, especially early in the campaign, especially while we’ve got guys like AB and Mujeeb around,” Malan added.

“It’s about trying to get as many wins as we can and hopefully we can keep that momentum when we get Eoin Morgan and Paul Stirling back.”

“So far it has been really good, especially the way we’ve played. The way we’ve approached them has been fantastic. There’s definitely been a change in momentum and a way of thinking.”

England one-day captain Morgan has taken a break following his side’s grueling and ultimately successful World Cup campaign, while Stirling is in Test action against England at Lord’s in a game that begins on Wednesday.

Despite his team’s fast start to this portion of the season, Malan urged his troops not to get carried away.

They face Gloucestershire next up who, led by the ageless Michael Klinger, remain one of the competition’s most consistently impressive sides. With former Middlesex man Ryan Higgins and Benny Howell operating in the middle overs with both bat and ball, Richard Dawson’s side possess two of county cricket’s most underrated cricketers.

“Gloucester are a fantastic T20 team and they’re certainly one of the most consistent teams – certainly since I’ve been playing over the last 10 to 12 years,” Malan said, looking ahead to their clash, which forms part of the Cheltenham Festival.

“They know their conditions well. They have a lot of skill with their bowlers in the middle, so we are going to have to turn up and not expect to win.

“It’s at Cheltenham – a club ground, which is short square and it only takes one guy to come off and the game changes. We are going to have to be right on it.”

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