Middlesex League rivals keep pace in Premier title race

Apr 21, 2024

North Middlesex remain one point clear of Brondesbury at the top of the Middlesex League Premier Division table after both recorded wins last weekend.

North Midd welcomed Teddington and put them into bat, with the new-ball pair of Max Harris and Harry Meehan (2-36) reducing them to 45-5.

First change Matthew Moran also got in on the act, but a 32-run stand for the sixth wicket then held up the charge, before Harris struck for a third time.

Luke Hollman (2-41) helped turn the screw, with Harris finishing his spell with 4-36 before Jeremy Warner ended a 39-run stand for the last wicket to finally dismiss the visitors for 148 in the 54th over.

North Midd slipped to 8-2 in reply, but Hollman dropped anchor and put on 110 for the thir wicket with fellow county staffer Joe Cracknell, who hit three sixes and nine fours in his 77 from 84 balls.

Evan Flowers added an unbeaten 27 from 15 deliveries, with Hollman still there on 37 from 85 balls as North Midd sealed a seven-wicket win in the 33rd over.

Brondesbury, meanwhile, had to work harder for their three-wicket victory at bottom club Twickenham, after dismissing the home side for 207 in the 48th over.

Nathan Fernandes produced a superb spell to finish with 7-72, with Wes Morrick (3-43) claiming the other wickets to fall.

But Bron slipped to 69-4 in reply, after Jay Madan (32) made a start, before Shailen Assani (22) added 69 with Vivian Paver.

And Australian all-rounder Paver had further support from Wes Morrick, Thomas Shaw and Josh McTaggart as he steered the visitors to their target in the 57th over, finishing unbeaten on 96 from 101 balls, having hit four sixes and seven fours.

Bron welcome Stanmore to Harman Drive this weekend as North Midd head to Hampstead rivals who drew at Ealing last weekend.

Put into bat, Hampstead fell to 29-2 before Steve McGiffin put on 80 for the third wicket with Callum Jackson (62) and 109 with Nick Taylor (42) for the fourth.

McGiffin hit 13 fours in his unbeaten 139 from 160 balls, as Hampstead closed on 289-8 from 66 overs.

And the then stuck with the ball to help reduce the home side to 16-2, before stands of 64 and 133 got them right back in the hunt.

Nic Taylor had support from Robbie White (41) and Lachlan Shaw (58), as Kieran McComb (3-47) had success in the middle order, and reached 104 from 135 balls before he was dismissed by Ben Frazer (2-66) to make it 265-8, with only five more runs added to the the Ealing total.

The derby between Crouch End and Finchley also ended in a close-fought draw at Arden Field.

Arthur Godsal (90 not out) and Natim Hassam (68) put on 118 as Crouch posted 265-6 from 60 overs, with Frederick Fowler (2-58) and Rohail Imman (2-60) nabbing braces for the hosts.

And, after William Leggett fell without scoring in reply, Jack Attenborough put on 108 with Matthew McGowan (43) and 63 with Joseph Emanuel (29).

Attenborough hit 13 fours in his 127 from 157 balls, but was run out to leave Finchley 232-7 and they eventually closed on 252-9.

Hassam (4-64) and Aparajit Khurana (3-84) were the pick of the bowling for Crouch, who host Twickenham this weekend, while Finchley travel to Teddington.

North London lead Hornsey by one point at the top of Division One after beating Southgate by 64 runs, while their rivals won by five wickets at Richmond.

The top two face a potential title showdown at North London on Saturday.