MIDDLESEX'S powers of recovery were amply demonstrated by an against-the-odds Sunday victory over Glamorgan at Lord's two weeks ago. Yesterday they did it again to confirm the one-day progress they have clearly made under new coach John Buchanan.

Even after Richard Harden was handicapped by a hamstring injury suffered in the middle of his 52, Somerset should have had few problems in reaching 161 on an admittedly five-day-old pitch. Yet somehow Middlesex, buzzing throughout in the field with Justin Langer to the fore, were able to pull off a one-run victory when Andy Caddick was only able to take a single from Paul Weekes's last ball.

Mushtaq Ahmed clubbed the first ball of that last over for six to leave just four runs needed, but two run outs in five deliveries proved costly.