WITH four wins from their opening five matches, North Middlesex have made a strong start to the season in the top-flight of the Middlesex County Cricket League.
It looked like the new campaign might be something of a slog after a five-wicket defeat away to Crouch End on the opening day. But since then Jacob Miltz’s side have gone from strength-to-strength, and on Saturday North Midd’s winning run continued when they returned from Shepherd’s Bush boasting maximum points.
Will Vanderspar was in electrifying form at the New Ground, collecting four wickets at the expense of just 44 runs from his 10-over bowling spell. With the help of some smart catching from James Parslow, Vanderspar removed the hosts’ top-order to leave Shepherd’s Bush struggling on 43-1.
Fin Trenouth offered some resistance as he hit a rapid 62 off 61 balls. But with Divyanshu Bhartiya’s mirroring Vanderspar’s deadly accuracy to take 4-47, Shepherd’s Bush were bowled out in the 50th over for 221.
It was an achievable target, but one made all the harder when opener Bhartiya was dismissed by the first ball he faced. His replacement, Evan Flowers, didn’t fair much better as he came and went for just two runs.
Miltz then arrived at the crease and put in a captain’s performance, forming a formidable partnership with Will Frais. The skipper smashed 98 off 126 balls in a knock that included 12 fours to help turn the tide, while Frais proved a fitting foil as he scored 55 off 69 balls.
Their combined efforts took North Midd to 103 before the loss of their next wicket, and when Frais did depart, Vanderspar came in to keep things steady with a well-crafted 32.
In the end the visitors did more than enough to get across the winning line, hitting 222-7 off 47 overs to seal a three-wicket win that saw North Midd move to within one point of Shepherd’s Bush at the top of the Premier Division table.
Meanwhile in Division One, Hampstead look hungry to bounce back from last season’s shock relegation as they continue to lead the way at the summit. They recorded their fourth win in five outings on Saturday when they beat Southgate by 34 runs at their home ground in Lymington Road, West Hampstead.
Opener Robin Evans top-scored for the hosts with 67, while Damien Burrage and Dan Waite also notched up half-centuries, hitting 58 and 54 runs respectively. With Rafay Ahmed chipping in with an unbeaten 45, Hampstead ended up posting 280-6 off 45 overs.
Southgate pushed back all the way, led by Max Joseph, who scored 46, and Charlie Spink, who hit 44. Despite surviving until the end of play, though, the visitors could only manage 246-9 off 45 overs in reply to finish well-short of causing an upset.
The victory leaves Hampstead nine points clear of North London at the top of the table.
