Published: 13 August, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

HAMPSTEAD took over top spot in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League on Saturday with a convincing home win against Stanmore. 

Having elected to field, Steve Clark’s side shared the wickets around as the visitors were bowled out for 154 at Lymington Road in West Hampstead. Skipper Clark claimed two wickets at the expense of 35 runs in a masterful 11-over spell, which included four maidens.

Jamie Gibson (2-28), Ragheb Aga (2-39) and Archie Fellowes (2-26) also all picked up two wickets each as Stanmore were dismissed within 50 overs. 

Clark didn’t play much of a part in Hampstead’s reply as he was trapped lbw by Abishek Kulkarni having put just two runs on the board. But his fellow opener George Adair put on 60 alongside Gibson, to drive the home side to 68, before he then departed on 32 after being caught by Marc Reingold off Tushaar Karia’s bowling. 

Gibson and Jaahid Ali then formed another telling partnership as they scored 49 and 31 runs respectively to move Hampstead within touching distance of victory. 

Despite a late wobble the hosts comfortably reached the winning mark of 155 off 46.4 overs to seal a four-wicket victory. 

The result took Hampstead above Richmond – who could only manage a winning-draw against third-placed Ealing – and into pole position as the top flight returns to a 50-over format for the remaining four weeks. 

North Midd title dream fades

NORTH Middlesex’s hopes of winning the title seem to be over after they suffered their second successive defeat in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League on Saturday. 

With captain Tom Nicoll taking four wickets for 72 runs and Ed Bird recording figures of 3-32, North Midd looked to be in a strong position in their match away against Twickenham.

But they paid the price for letting their opponents back into the game as the hosts escaped from 106-8 to finish on 189 all out off 43.5 overs. 

Twickenham’s Parminder Singh wasn’t so generous as he took six wickets for just 38 runs as North Midd were bowled out for 130 in the 38th over, 60 runs shy of their winning target.

Captain Nicoll tried his best to earn the visitors a vital win as he top-scored with 66 off 98 balls.