Published: 24 May, 2012

NORTH Middlesex got their first point on the board on Saturday as they returned from their tough away game against Acton with a losing-draw.

Deciding to bowl first, North Midd were made to wait for their opening wicket as Acton posted a score of 60 runs before Kaleem Hussein claimed the scalp of opener James Hunt lbw.  

Hussein quickly struck again to dismiss Ravinder Sidhu for 30 runs, but Acton settled into their stride with Keith Hunt and Yasir Mehmood scoring 39 and 31 runs respectively.

Their combined efforts helped the hosts push on to 196-7 before declaring after 55 overs.

Hussein was the pick of the North Midd bowlers as he claimed 4-44 off 15 overs.

The visitors got off to a mixed start with Damien Wall scoring well, while captain Adam Holmes scored just one run before being caught by Sidhu off the bowling of Buddhadev Mangaldas.

Evan Flowers scored a steady 31, but with wickets falling around him North Midd failed to make their testing target as they scored 158-8 off 45 overs to at least take a point from their travels.