THE title race in the top-flight of the Middlesex County Cricket League is proving to be so tight that a narrow 16-run defeat was enough to see leaders North Middlesex drop from first to third on Saturday.

Jacob Miltz’s side found themselves chasing 173 for the win in their home match against Shepherd’s Bush after Joel Hughes had put in a brilliant bowling display, taking 5-47.

But despite the efforts of Luke Hollman and Divyanshu Bhartiya, who scored 36 and 38 runs respectively, North Midd fell agonisingly short of their target as they were skittled out for just 156.