The talented Middlesex leg-spinner Nathan Sowter has joined Durham on loan for the remaining matches of the T20 Blast and County Championship. The period is said to be until July 16, when the loan spell will culminate.
Sowter last featured for the Middlesex team in a County fixture against Leicestershire last year and returned with a solitary wicket. With 73 scalps in 76 matches, he is the third highest-wicket taker for the team in the T20 format.
In the 2021 edition of Blast, the 29-year-old returned with 15 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 7.50.
However, he has not been given any opportunity by the team management in the ongoing Blast matches.
The spinner was said to be actively searching for a deal with other county teams to get better opportunities. With spinner Scott Borthwick ruled out due to a wrist injury, Sowter is all set to make his debut for Durham in their fixture against Lancashire on Friday Night.
Sowter is unlikely to extend his contract with Middlesex, which is ending later this year. With his announcement, his stint with Oval Invincibles for The Men's Hundred 2022 is also doubtful.
Luke Hollman and Thilan Walallawita have been given opportunities ahead of Sowter, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been called to replace Chris Green in the overseas slots.
Alan Coleman, Middlesex's head of performance, reckoned that the team had made a decision based on their long-term plans and wished Sowter for his spell with Durham.
"Sowts hasn't been selected for any first-team action this year due to the progression of other players within the squad," Alan Coleman said.
"We have made a conscious decision to give match experience and opportunities to those players, with an eye on building our longer-term plans. Sowts is a great bloke, and we wish him every success during his loan spell with Durham at the Riverside," Coleman added.
Durham have two wins, while Middlesex have secured three victories in seven appearances in T20 Blast 2022.