Published: 18 June, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

CRICKET fans are in for a real treat this Saturday when North Middlesex host rivals Hampstead at their Park Road ground in Crouch End.

There are two points separating the sides in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League, with both teams showing title-winning potential six games into the season. 

North Midd will go into the game in confident mood having recovered from a testing start to win by 140 runs away at Stanmore on Saturday. 

A poor start saw Joe Cracknell, Will Vanderspar and Will Nicoll all depart early on to leave Tom Nicoll’s side struggling on 39-3. 

But Evan Flowers came in to steady the ship by scoring 99 off 121 balls, a confident knock that included nine fours and two sixes. 

With Joe Hewton and Tom Nicoll hitting respective scores of 47 and 46, the visitors ended up declaring with a healthy 274-9 off 56 overs. 

Joel Hughes may have struggled with the bat, scoring one run before being trapped lbw. But with the ball he was in sensational form. 

He disarmed Stanmore’s attack with ease as he claimed five wickets at the expense of 50 runs in a commanding 15.4 overs spell. 

Sam Webber also played his part as he took 3-31 as Stanmore were bowled out for 134 in the 49th over. 

To their credit Stanmore did well to make a game of it after being caught cold by Hughes and Webber, whose blistering start to the game had seen the hosts slump to 20-6.