Local cricket: Middlesex League - Rain halts Hassan’s bowling blitz

THE rain ruled on Saturday as a host of League fixtures were washed out. 

The Premier Division match between Hampstead and Winchmore Hill lasted just 28 overs before the umpires took the players off the field. It was a shame for Hampstead bowler Mubasher Hassan, who seemed in fine fettle as he took 4-68 in 14 overs. 

North Middlesex were held to a draw in their Division Two match at home to Acton in one of the few games that did survive the weather. 

Having been put into bat, the Midd openers Adam Holmes and Alex Hill struggled to settle into any real rhythm as they scored just 15 and 11 runs respectively. 
 

The returning Evan Flowers upped the run-rate as he scored 31 off 43 balls, while Joe Hewton top-scored for the hosts with 60 off 88 balls. 

In a bid to force a result North Middlesex declared on 183-7 after 47 overs. 

Darren Eckford and Dexter Thomas made an immediate impact as they bowled Acton’s openers with the first two overs to leave the visitors struggling on 22-3. 

The pair were in confident mood with Thomas claiming figures of 3-31 and Eckford taking 2-35 in their respective 10-over spells. But Acton’s Zeeshan Gauher helped his team creep over the four-point total with two balls to spare as he finished on 31 not out. Overall Acton ended play on 133-8 off 34 overs, leaving North Middlesex with just a point for their efforts because of their slower run-rate.