AWAY days don’t come much tougher than facing North Middlesex at their Park Road ground, but that’s the hurdle Hampstead must overcome this Saturday if they want to stay top of the Premier Division table.

It might be early on in the season, but captain Mubasher Hassan can take great confidence from Hampstead’s positive start to their campaign in the Middlesex County Cricket League – which continued on Saturday with a resounding seven-wicket win over Ealing at Lymington Road.

Hassan (3-34) was one of a trio of home bowlers who picked up three wickets, along with Muhammad Ahmed (3-22) and Kieran McComb (3-28) in what was a ruthless performance with the ball in hand.

Their pinpoint accuracy resulted in Ealing being skittled out for just 160 runs in the 43rd over.

Led by Ciaran Johnson, Hampstead’s reply was short and to the point. The opening batter hit an unbeaten 80 in a knock that included 12 fours, while Nick Taylor’s unbeaten 24 and 22 runs from Joe Kendall saw the hosts ease to their winning target of 161-3 within 36 overs.

The victory leaves Hampstead perched on top of the table, level on points with Shepherd’s Bush. A marker on just how tight this season could be comes with the fact that there are three teams – Brondesbury, Ealing and Teddington – that are all just one point behind.

Hampstead will be full of confidence ahead of Saturday’s match against North Midd – but that will be tested in Crouch End as they take on a side looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat away at Teddington last time out.

Abhishek Jhunjhunwala’s well-crafted century and Aaran Amin’s unbeaten knock of 70 saw Teddington smash 296-4 from their allotted 50 overs. Andrew Brewster made sure that it was a target that North Midd got nowhere near, taking 5-23 as the visitors were bowled out for 104.