GARETH Berg admits it is a case of all or nothing for Middlesex in this Sunday's CB40 clash with Lancashire at Lord’s.
The term ‘must win game’ is an over-used one in sport, but even with more than half this year’s 40-over competition still to go, a distinctly average start means the Panthers have no more wriggle room if they are to make the knockout stages.
A washout against surprise runaway leaders Holland last weekend came on top of two wins and two defeats from the first four games.
So all-rounder Berg knows anything but victory will end their hopes of silverware in a competition where only group winners and the best second place team from the three sections progress
He said: "We are definitely playing win or bust already in the CB40.
"It would have been great to get a game on with the Dutch the other day, but the weather played against that.
"So we know it is not in our hands really, we have just got to go out there and try and win every game.
"We know if we lose one now that will be it for us in the competition."
South African-born Berg will go into the clash with the Red Rose county buoyed by claiming his 100th first-class wicket on the first day of the current County Championship clash with Somerset at Lord’s.
The 31-year-old reached the milestone in bizarre circumstances having volunteered to complete an over for Corey Collymore after the West Indian pace-man left the field with a knee injury.
His willingness was rewarded as he induced James Hildreth to nick one behind to the safe hands of John Simpson - and all from the Nursery End as oppose to his normal Pavilion End at the home of cricket.
He added: "As bowlers we have our preferred ends and coming in from the Nursery side is a challenge because you can lose your shape and almost end up falling down the slope.
"But as cricketers you have to be prepared to bowl at either end and when Corey came off the field I was the first one there saying I want to finish this over.
"I was in a good rhythm at the Pavilion End and I’d had a rest, so I said to the skipper I’m definitely taking this ball because I just want to keep bowling."
