A SIX-WICKET haul from Ben Lockrose still wasn’t enough to ease North Middlesex’s struggles as they slipped to another defeat on Saturday, this time at Shepherd’s Bush.

With just one win in eight matches in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League, Jacob Miltz’s side travelled to Bush’s Bromyard Avenue ground looking to stop the rot.

The visitors made an early breakthrough when a smart catch by Lockrose off Max Harris’s bowling sent Marcus Howard heading back to the changing rooms for 17.

Lockrose then really ramped up the pressure as he bowled Sidney Thomson and Mitchell Crayn for just eight runs each, while also picking off Adam Chislett for 13. Mohammed Rizvi (3-69) also played his part by removing Idris Otto-Mian for 25.
North Midd had Shepherd’s Bush just where they wanted them as the home side found themselves sweating on 84-5.

But then came a momentum-changing sixth-wicket partnership between Luke Matthews and Will Pembroke. Combining to put on 119 runs, Matthews ended the afternoon having scored 72 off 109 deliveries, while Pembroke hit 65 off 114.

Lockrose did eventually remove both Matthews and Pembroke, along with Chinmay Mullapudi for nine runs, on his way to recording figures of 6-91. The Shepherd’s Bush revival, though, was already in full swing as they managed 252 before being bowled out in the 65th over.

It was important that North Middlesex made an aggressive start with the bat, but, not for the first time in this campaign, runs proved hard to come by.

Opener Will Frais only put 12 runs on the scoreboard before being trapped lbw by Mullapudi, while his replacement at the crease, Pradhuman Singh, scored just two runs as the defending champions quickly found themselves on 19-2.

Despite being in the middle for over 25 minutes, Evan Flowers, who opened the batting alongside Frais, could only muster three runs.

Skipper Miltz and David Winn restored a little hope as they formed North Midd’s best partnership of the day. While Miltz only registered 11 runs, he provided the perfect support for Winn, who hit a patient 57.

However, that was as good as it got for the away side as they were bowled out inside 35 overs for 137 – handing Shepherd’s Bush a 115-run victory. The result leaves North Midd bottom of the table going into a tough home match against Hornsey this weekend.

Elsewhere, in Division One, Muhammad Ahmed took 6-36 to help inspire Hampstead to a three-wicket victory over Harrow St Mary’s.

Ahmed’s devastating showing with the ball saw the visitors bowled out for 186 in the 51st over.

In reply, Lachie Bailey top-scored for Hampstead with 47, adding to Amogh Karpe’s earlier stand of 42 as the home side reached their winning total of 190-7 inside 48 overs to take all 10 points.