Published: 29 May, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

A FIRST-WICKET partnership of 139 amazingly wasn’t enough to earn Hampstead all 10 points in their rain-affected home match against Richmond on Saturday in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County League. 

George Adair scored 94 off 138 balls, including 14 fours, while captain Steve Clark hit five fours and a six in a knock of 44 as the champions took an early stranglehold on the game. 

But with the wet weather disrupting play Hampstead opted to switch to the field in an attempt to force a result as they declared on 224-5 after 44.5 overs. 

It was a gamble that didn’t pay off for the hosts as Richmond raced to 154-4 to stay ahead of the run-rate before rain ended play after 24.2 overs. 

Ryan Higgins’s score of 87 off 63 balls helped the visitors take four points, while Hampstead had to settle for a point. 

Wait goes on for Midd

NORTH Middlesex are still awaiting their first win in the top flight after suffering an agonising last-over defeat at Teddington on Saturday. 

Home skipper James Keightley terrorised the North Midd batsman as he took five wickets at the expense of just 21 runs in a devastating seven-over spell. With the visitors also struggling with the wet conditions, they only managed to post a score of 145-9 from their alloted 50 overs. 

A draw looked the most likely outcome as Teddington were given just 28 overs to reply. 

But a match-winning partnership between James Wade, who smashed 67 off 94 balls, and James Fear, who hit 46 off 35, saw the home side snatch 16 runs off the last two overs to seal a three-wicket victory with a score of 146-7.