Cricket: Division Two - North Middlesex 205-7 Shepherds Bush 96 ao

Published: 18 July, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

NORTH Middlesex stretched their unbeaten league run to 10 games on Saturday with a commanding home victory over Shepherds Bush.

Having been put in to bat, openers Adam Holmes and Jaron Semper settled quickly on a wicket that was still soft and slightly damp from the rain the previous night.

The pair took the score to 37 before Semper was dismissed for 18 after being caught by Paul Drakes off the bowling of Greg Malkin.

Evan Flowers came to the crease and, with conditions favouring the bowlers, formed a new partnership that worked the ball neatly rather than opting for expansive hitting as they scored 68 without further loss at drinks.

After refreshments it was clear that Flowers was intent on speeding up the tempo.

Three crisp boundaries were followed by a shot too many and he departed for 37 after being caught on the boundary by Sam Howard off the bowling of Rasaratnam Naguleswaran.

The partnership of the game saw Holmes batting sensibly alongside Joe Hewton in a stand of 85, before both perished trying to increase the run-rate in the final few overs.

Holmes went for 62, while Hewton recorded a knock of 50 as North Middlesex finished their 55-over spell with 205-7.

Off-spinner Naguleswaran was in outstanding form for Shepherds Bush as he took 6-51 off 14 overs.

The hosts made a solid start in the field with Will Wootton claiming two early wickets to leave the Bush struggling on 25-2 after eight overs.

The precariousness of their position was cemented when Darren Eckford had the dangerous Naguleswaran caught in the gully by Alex Hill, while Semper had Dan Davis caught by Holmes at slip to leave the visitors on 41-4 after 15 overs.

Eckford went on to record figures of 3-46 off 18 overs, before Will Nicoll took 4-9 off 6.1 overs to help dismiss the Bush for just 96 runs and earn the Midd a resounding 109-run victory.