Published: 8 August, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

Middlesex County League
Premier Division

HAMPSTEAD’S lead at the top of the table has been cut to just eight points after they were beaten at home by Twickenham on Saturday.

Having been put in to bat first, a strong showing from the top order helped the league leaders post a competitive score of 270-8 from 60 overs at their home ground in Lymington Road, West Hampstead.  

Openers Steve Clark and Graham Clark scored 43 and 42 respectively as Hampstead reached 81 without loss.

With Mubasher Hassan hitting 43, Liam Hughes chipping in with 42 and Jaahid Ali scoring 33 Hampstead looked to be on course for a vital victory.

The hosts edged even closer to all 10 points when skipper Steve Clark dismissed openers Babar Choudhary and Rashid Mullahzadah to leave Twickenham struggling on 50-2.

However, Carlos Nunes and Clint McCabe added 125 runs together for the third wicket, before David Russell came in and struck 59 to turn the game around for the visitors.

McCabe hit 61 before being caught by Steve Clark off the bowling of Chris Beaumont-Dark.

That left captain Nunes to guide his team home to victory with 52 not out, supported late in the day by Parminda Singh, who scored 23 not out.

They took Twickenham to 271-8 off 55 overs to seal a two-wicket victory, a defeat that was compounded for Hampstead by the news that nearest rivals Ealing had beaten Stanmore by 147 runs.