BOWLING duo Muhammad Ahmed and Damien Burrage both recorded four-wicket hauls on Saturday to help Hampstead continue their winning return to the top-flight of the Middlesex County Cricket League.

Hosts Richmond opted to bat first and quickly found themselves struggling on 47-3 after Ahmed struck early to remove openers Mohammed Rizvi (eight runs) and Vansh Jani (33), along with Charles Nelson, who went for a golden duck.

Ahmed also removed Jack Nelson for a single on his way to taking four wickets at the expense of 30 runs.

Skipper Adam London sparked a mini Richmond revival as he scored 70 runs off 100 balls. But the momentum soon shifted back in Hampstead’s favour when London was caught by Callum Cameron off Burrage’s bowling.

Buoyed by his first wicket of the afternoon, Burrage quickly took the scalps of Eric Botha and Oliver Leedham for just six and two runs respectively, before bowling Sam Graham with one ball to end the match with figures of 4-38.

Having dismissed Richmond for 193 inside 45 overs, Hampstead knew that they still faced a mighty challenge if they were going to return home with 10 points.

And so it proved, as Graham (2-36) removed Amogh Karpe without scoring and Rob Keen for three runs.

Opener Rafay Ahmed batted well to put 30 runs on the board before being bowled by Rizvi (2-28), and there was little respite as Rizvi soon returned to claim Burrage’s wicket, too, for just one run. Craig Baldry then bowled Hampstead skipper Mubasher Hassan for three runs to leave the visitors up against it on 5-62.

Hampstead, though, managed to offer resistance at just the right intervals. Oyishik Chakraborty followed up the unbeaten 124 he scored last weekend against Harrow St Mary’s with 35 vital runs at Old Deer Park, while Sam Fraser’s late stand of 32 would also prove crucial.

But it was Timothy McSweeney’s unbeaten 67 off 94 balls – a rapid knock that included six fours and four sixes – that sealed a two-wicket win for Hampstead, who showed plenty of guile and spirit as they scored 196-8 in 46.4 overs.

The result sets Hampstead up nicely for this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash against North Middlesex at Lymington Road.

A third-wicket stand of 97 between Will Vanderspar and William Fort saw North Midd record a 76-run victory over current champions Ealing on Saturday.

Opener Fort showed solid shot selection as he hit 85 off 114 balls, while Vanderspar wasted little time racking up the runs as he scored 65 off 71 balls.

With Evan Flowers also batting well for 31, North Midd managed to score 246 before being bowled out one ball short of their allotted 50 overs.

Owen Marshall was the pick of the Ealing bowlers as he took 5-36 to give his side a fighting chance.

It was North Midd who pushed on for the victory, however, as they showcased the wicket-taking ability within their squad to get over the winning line.

Vanderspar (2-23), Max Harris (2-24) and Alex MacQueen (2-38) all picked up two wickets each as North Midd produced a ruthless onslaught that resulted in Ealing being bowled out in the 42nd over for 170.