Cricket: Middlesex County League Division One - Hampstead 171 AO Ealing 174-8

Published: 12 May, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

HAMPSTEAD showed tremendous fight in their opening fixture against reigning champions Ealing on Saturday as they slipped to an agonising two-wicket defeat at their home ground in Lymington Road. 

Having lost the toss and been invited to bat the hosts recovered from 108-7 at lunch to reach 171 all out in 61 overs. 

The revival was largely thanks to the true grit of Imraan Mohammed and the last wicket partner-ship between debutant Francois Vainker and man-of-the-match Zac Khan. 

Mohammed returned to action for the first time in 10 months following the birth of his daughter to score 34 vital runs, while Vainker and Khan repelled the Ealing bowlers for an hour in a stand worth 35. 

With Mubasher Hassan having chipped in with 37 runs Hampstead were confident that they could protect their lead of 171. 

Khan reinforced Hampstead’s hopes of getting a result as he claimed 4-52 in a devastating 17-over spell. Ealing, however, still managed to creep over the winning line as they hit 174-8 off 45.2 overs to snatch all 10 points.