SEVEN matches into the season, and struggling North Middlesex have managed just one victory so far after suffering another slip-up on Saturday afternoon.

The defending champions shuffled their batting order for their home fixture against Stanmore in the top-flight of the Middlesex County Cricket League.

And it seemed to be working well with openers Evan Flowers and Will Frais taking North Midd beyond 50 runs before the loss of their first wicket.

Flowers managed 32 off 38 balls before being caught by wicket-keeper Daniel O’Driscoll off Hashim Hussain’s bowling. That brought skipper Jacob Miltz to the crease, who also batted well alongside Frais to drive North Midd forward in testing conditions.

The combination of Hussain’s teasing deliveries and O’Driscoll’s quick reflexes worked again to remove Frais for 43, while Miltz soon followed on 26 runs after being bowled by Siddharthsinh Parmar.

Stanmore’s attack of Hussain and Steven Reingold would prove a constant threat all afternoon. Hussain removed David Winn for just six runs and Ben Lockrose for a duck on his way to earning figures of 4-52.

Mohammed Rizvi offered the hosts some much-needed resistance as he batted for the best part of 90 minutes for his knock of 34 before being run out. Angus Beattie also performed well in a late stand of 30.

But Beattie eventually succumbed to Reingold’s relentless pressure as the Stanmore spinner ended the afternoon with 4-25.

North Midd did, however, give them-selves a slight fighting chance after managing 210 before being dismissed in the 62nd over.

Any optimism was, though, short-lived as the irrepressible Aaryan Sawant arrived in the middle of the pitch in a batting mood. He smashed nine fours and a six on his way to hitting an unbeaten 117 to almost single-handedly guide Stanmore to their winning total of 211-7 inside 57 overs.

For bottom-placed North Midd the unenviable task now is to shake off the three-wicket defeat and go again this weekend when they travel to a Shepherd’s Bush side sitting just above them in the table.

Elsewhere, in Division One, Hampstead managed to pick up five points from their trip to Wycombe House. Aniket Parikh ended the afternoon as Hampstead’s top-scorer with 55, while Timothy McSweeney and Lachie Bailey both batted well for their respective knocks of 45 and 42.

It was a team effort that helped the visitors reach 257 before being bowled out in the 48th over.

On another day such a performance would have heralded a victory, but on this occasion Rohail Imman’s impressive score of 67 saw Wycombe House all but match Hampstead’s efforts as they ended play on 203-8 to earn the draw.

Having earlier led Hampstead’s innings, Parikh was also their top bowler on the day, taking 4-86.