Published: 20 August, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

HAMPSTEAD are just three wins away from being crowned champions in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League following a nail-biting win at Finchley on Saturday. 

A rally of late runs from Robert Jones proved crucial as he hit an unbeaten 32 off 22 balls, 20 of which came in a stonking last over that included two sixes.

Jones’s knock was part of a seventh-wicket pairing with Charlie Wedgwood that added 40 runs to drive the visitors up to a defendable total of 244-7 off their allotted 50 overs. 

Those late runs were vital as a partnership of 97 between Hassan Khan and Sumeet Sharma saw hosts Finchley recover from 91-6 to 229 before being bowled out just 16 runs short of victory with two overs remaining. 

Hampstead skipper Steve Clark played his part with both bat and ball, opening the attack with 46 off 93 balls and later taking three wickets at the expense of 40 runs in a commanding 10-over spell that included two maidens. 

Liam Hughes was Hampstead’s biggest hitter of the day as he scored more than a run a ball with a knock of 50 off 46, while Jaahid Ali was also clinical as he scored 38 off 50 balls. 

The victory leaves Hampstead just one point clear of Richmond at the top of the table, with the two sides set to face each other on the final day of the season. 

Flowers flair fails to fire N Midd

A DISAPPOINTING batting display condemned North Middlesex to their third defeat on the spin on Saturday as they lost at home against Stanmore in the Premier Division of the county cricket league. 

Anshuman Rath’s 73 off 94 balls, which included two sixes and six fours, saw the visitors post a score of 229-9 from their allotted 50 overs. 

Evan Flowers eclipsed that score as he did his best to guide North Midd to victory, smashing two sixes and eight fours on his way to 77 off 83 balls. 

But without any real support Tom Nicoll’s side fell 65 runs short of victory as they were bowled out for 165 in the 39th over.