NORTH Middlesex moved to within touching distance of being crowned champions on Saturday with a priceless three-wicket win away to title rivals Brondesbury in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Cricket League.

Fast bowler Joel Hughes might have left the home side regretting their decision to bat first as he picked up four wickets at the expense of just 46 runs, including openers Sabir Baharami, for a duck, and Jay Madan, who departed with 31 runs to his name.

Max Harris also bowled well to take 3-41 as Brondesbury were dismissed for 179 in the 41st over at Harman Drive. It would have been a lot worse for the hosts had it not been for Nathan Fernandes, who showed good shot selection on his way to top-scoring with 59 runs off 79 balls.

North Midd also found it tough to get runs on the board. Opener Divyanshu Bhartiya came and went without scoring, while David Heavyside managed just four runs before being sent back to the changing room – both falling victim to some fine bowling from Wes Morrick.

Jacob Miltz got the scoreboard moving in the visitors’ favour as he recorded a patient half-century, while skipper James Parslow delivered a captain’s innings as he smashed 52 not out off 64 balls to drive North Midd to their winning total of 182-7.

The 10-point win leaves North Midd eight clear at the top of the table with two games to go. They welcome already-relegated Twickenham to their Park Road home ground in Crouch End this weekend, before travelling to mid-table Stanmore on the final day of the season.

Elsewhere, Hampstead edged out of the relegation places after beating Teddington by 112 runs at Lymington Road.

Skipper Mubasher Hassan and Ben Frazer produced a vital 113-run partnership for the home side, with Hassan ending the afternoon on 53 runs, while Frazer top-scored with 73.

Despite the efforts of Teddington bowler Alasdair Pollock, who took 4-52, Hampstead posted a total of 285 all out from their allotted 50 overs.

The visitors managed just 173 in reply before being bowled out in the 36th over. Kieran McComb led the attack for Hampstead, taking 3-23, while Omed Basir (2-27) and Darren Jayasekera (2-15) picked up a couple of wickets each.

The win leaves Hampstead eighth in the 10-team table.