Published: 30 July, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

WITH six games to go the title race in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League looks set to go down to the wire with both Hampstead and North Middlesex within touching distance of leaders Richmond. 

Steve Clark’s Hampstead side are 13 points off the pace after sailing to a six-wicket victory against Twickenham on Saturday at their home ground in Lymington Road, West Hampstead. 

Having opted to start in the field the hosts got off to a blistering start with Clark, Ragheb Aga and Jamie Gibson all taking early wickets to leave Twickenham struggling on 26-4. 

But a well-crafted century from Carlos Nunes and an equally rapid knock of 86 from Shawn Hicks saw the visitors battle back to post a more competitive score of 249 all out off 60.2 overs. 

Archie Fellowes helped limit Twickenham’s total as he cleaned up the tail end, finishing with figures of 5-40 from a commanding 13.2-over spell, which included two maidens. 

Hampstead were clinical in their chase with openers Clark and George Adair taking them past the 50 mark before the loss of their first wicket, Clark going lbw on 20 to Joe Sexton. 

That led to a match-defining partnership between Adair and Gibson, who went on to score 88 and 74 runs respectively to all but guide Hampstead to a winning score of 253-4 off their 45 overs. 

North Middlesex are 14 points off top spot after being held to a draw away at Southgate, a result which saw them collect six points with a faster run-rate. 

Having elected to bat first Tom Nicoll put in a captain’s showing with the bat as he scored 60 off 98 balls, a commanding knock which included seven fours and a six. 

Will Vanderspar also did well with the bat for his score of 59 as North Midd reached 237-9 before declaring in the 62nd over. 

North Midd came within one wicket of taking all 13 points, but Southgate managed to somehow survive until the end of play as they ended their innings on 205-9 off 65 overs to earn themselves a point.