Date-stamped : 30 Jul97 - 11:30 Middlesex count cost of their extra helpings By Simon Hughes at Lord`s Warwickshire (286-6) bt Middlesex (258-9) by 28 runs HEADY Warwickshire out-cricket and an awkward pitch conspired against Middlesex in their breathless pursuit of 287 and, despite Mark Ramprakash`s refined 98 and a lusty innings from Keith Brown, they failed for the seventh year running to reach the se- mi-finals. In the post mortems they will blame their attack for supplying more than five extra overs in no balls and wides. Bowlers always get it in the neck anyway. David Hemp took full toll of Middlesex`s profligacy to compile a dashing century and win the man of the match award. His in- nings gave Warwickshire an unassailable total provided they bowled straight which they did, crucially while they were being assaulted by Ram- prakash and Brown. That and Trevor Penney`s brilliant fielding, featuring a run out and a 30-yard dash and dive to deprive Ramprakash of a de- served century, won them the match. Neil Smith`s departure in the first over was particularly sat- isfying to Middlesex (and me) bearing in mind his telling contri- bution the last time these two teams met in the NatWest. Smith, whose six in the last over of the 1989 final sank Middlesex, could not even get off the mark this time as Angus Fraser brought one back down the slope. The sight of Fraser wheeling away relentlessly from the Pavil- ion End is as much a feature of NW6 as the Regent`s Park mosque and double parking on St John`s Wood High Street, but the other seam bowlers allowed too many liberties on a cracked, uneven pitch. Hemp`s fifty was six times slower than the 18-ball one he achieved at Durham recently, but his driving was majestic. He found the cover boundary even when Ramprakash posted himself there. Dominic Ostler began scratchily after Andy Moles was leg be- fore, and on 14 was caught off a no ball. Later he found his touch - pulling, dabbing and running - until being beaten by Fraser`s direct hit from third man. The Middlesex beneficiary returned for another miserly spell, and doffed his cap to the ovation for a stint of 12 overs, two maidens, one for 31, but no one threw any money in it. That came later with a collec- tion of -L2,103.79. He would not have minded one in the semis ei- ther. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)