Leaders are left frustrated by draw
North Middlesex’s lead at the top of the Premier Division table is cut
Thursday, 20th July 2023
NORTH Middlesex saw their lead at the top of the Premier Division table cut to just one point after they were narrowly denied victory at Crouch End on Saturday in the Middlesex County Cricket League.
Having been put in to bat first at the Calthorpe Ground, North Midd struggled early doors with openers David Heavyside and Luke Hollman managing just nine and eight runs respectively as the visitors were reduced to 17-2.
Not for the first time this season, Divyanshu Bhartiya helped drive North Midd forward as he scored 63 off 111 balls in a patient knock that included five fours and a six.
Max Harris’s stand of 35 not out – along with innings from Jacob Miltz and Hassan Khan, who hit 24 and 23 runs respectively – beefed up North Midd’s total as they declared on 233-9 after 51 overs.
Joel Hughes did his best to make that a winning score as he tore through Crouch End’s top-order on his way to taking four wickets at the expense of just 46 runs. But the home side continued to show great resilience until the final ball as they ended play on 135-8 to earn a draw.
North Midd are back on the road this weekend when they take on a struggling Finchley side who are currently sitting second from bottom.
Elsewhere, Hampstead picked up a much-needed win as they returned from their trip to Twickenham with 12 big points. Openers Joe Kendall, 38 runs, and Ciaran Johnson, 54, provided a solid start at The Green, taking Hampstead’s score to 85 runs before the fall of the opening wicket.
With Callum Jackson also batting well for 48, the visitors took full advantage of their 65.5-over stay at the crease as they posted 284 before being dismissed.
Steve McGiffin made sure that it would be a winning score as he claimed 5-51 in a devastating 18-over spell that included five maidens. Kieran McComb also bowled well, collecting 3-28 as Twickenham were all out for 133, earning Hampstead a 151-run victory.
The win saw Hampstead climb to eighth in a 10-team table. They will be looking to make it back-to-back wins this weekend when they welcome Stanmore to Lymington Road.
