THE big hits rivalled the weather on Saturday as the Middlesex County Cricket League delivered some scorching performances.

Bowler Ben Lockrose picked up a four-wicket haul away at Hornsey to help title hopefuls North Middlesex keep the pressure on at the top of the Premier Division table.

Joel Hughes (2-27) got the visitors off to a commanding start when he removed openers Thomas Wyatt for a duck and Ben Miller for 23 to leave Hornsey sitting on 40-2.

Lockrose then continued his flying start to the campaign by bowling Josh Haynes for 23 as the home side slipped to 58-3.

Harry Killoran provided some much-needed resistance with a knock of 78 off 120 balls. But when he was caught by Lockrose off Angus Beattie’s bowling, Hornsey quickly found themselves under mounting pressure.

Not for the first time this season, Lockrose seized the opportunity to put his team on the front foot as he pushed on to end the afternoon with four wickets to his name at the expense of just 69 runs. Beattie (2-20) and Alex MacQueen (2-51) also both bowled consistently as Hornsey were skittled out for 199.

With the sun beating down, the North Midd batters were clearly keen to drive home the advantage. A second-wicket partnership of 132 between opener Ross Forrester, who hit 71, and skipper Jacob Miltz, who top-scored with 88, did just the trick as the pairing all but sealed a seven-wicket victory, with North Midd powering to 200-3 inside 48 overs.

The result leaves Miltz’s side second in the table, 16 points behind Shepherd’s Bush, who picked up 12 points courtesy of their 180-run win at Teddington. Next up, North Midd welcome Stanmore to their Park Road ground on Saturday, while Shepherd’s Bush host Hornsey.

Elsewhere, Hampstead forged a series of key partnerships that helped make light work of their trip to Ealing – the highlight of which was a stonking score of 120 from Amogh Karpe.

Alongside Rafay Ahmed, who hit 41, Karpe formed an opening stand of 103, before then building a fourth-wicket partnership of 77 with Damien Burrage, who chipped in with 32.

With Arran Duguid scoring 32 not out and captain Mubasher Hassan adding 24, Hampstead established a lead of 281-7 before declaring after 63 overs.

Muhammad Ahmed made sure that Hampstead’s total was enough to win the match as he collected wickets at regular intervals on his way to taking 6-35.

In the end, Ealing managed 122 in reply as Hampstead secured a resounding 159-run victory. The result will send Hassan’s side into their next fixture in confident mood, which is a home match against Teddington this weekend.