Published: 31 May, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

REJUVENATED Hampstead got their season back on track on Saturday with a commanding 77-run victory away at defending champions Ealing.

The visitors were put into bat and knew they had to take something from the game after suffering a five-wicket defeat away at Winchmore Hill in their previous outing. Under the leadership of newly-elected captain and overseas star Mark Divin, Hampstead looked back to their free-scoring best with Salman Mohammed and Tom Lewis effectively seeing off the new ball with an 83-run opening stand.

Once both openers were dismissed, Lewis for 51 and Mohammed for 29, Divin and Mubasher Hassan joined forces to build a match-winning partnership of 167. Both fell just just short of centuries, scoring 90 and 91 runs respectively.

A quick-fire 25 not out from Hanish Patel saw Hampstead rack up an intimidating 318-6 from the maximum 66 overs, leaving Ealing 54 overs to salvage something from the game.

Skipper Divin wasn’t about to let the standards slip, however, and guided his team to victory with a devastating display with the ball.

He claimed seven wickets at the expense of 64 runs off 16.2 overs to help skittle Ealing out for 241.