By Martin Smith

CHARLIE Allison struck a maiden half-century in only his third first-team innings to help Essex pull off an extraordinary first victory of the season in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
The 18-year-old lived up to his promise in the second eleven with a mature knock of 70 that included three sixes and even outshone his captain Tom Westley’s patient 60 from 90 balls.
However, Middlesex looked well on track to record their own first win of the campaign when they reached 236-3 with 15 overs left chasing 299 to win.
But despite Mark Stoneman setting the foundations f...