Published: 22 August, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

TOM Smith put in a devastating bowling display as Hampstead edged towards the Premier Division title on Saturday with a four-wicket win over Winchmore Hill.

Spinner Smith collected eight wickets at the expense of just 59 runs as a struggling Winchmore Hill side were skittled for 156 in 43.2 overs at Lymington Road in West Hampstead.

Opener Scott Newman was the only visiting player to offer any resistance to Smith’s ruthless bowling as he hit 57 off 58 balls before being trapped lbw by Steve Clark.

Smith and Clark opened in reply and scored 28 and 13 respectively in what proved a nervous chase.

Ragheb Aga was the calming force in Hampstead’s attack as he scored an unbeaten 59 to drive the hosts to a winning 160-6 off 47.2 overs.

The win was reinforced by the news that nearest rivals Ealing suffered a 17-run defeat against Finchley, leaving Hampstead 18 points clear at the top of the table with three games to go.

• The race for the Division Two title looks set to go down to the wire after Brondesbury secured a four-wicket victory over leaders North Middlesex on Saturday. Having been put into bat, North Midd endured one of their worst batting displays of the season as they were bowled out for just 92 in 34 overs. David Miller and Sam Smith were in exceptional form for Brondesbury as they collected three wickets each. Ed Bird did his best to drag North Midd back into the game as he claimed 3-17 off six overs. But with such a slender total to protect the odds of a turnaround were always going to be slim, and Miller’s 33 not out and 30 from Tom Simpson guided Brondesbury to their winning score of 93-6 within 25 overs.