Cricket: Middlesex County League Premier Division - Hampstead 256-8 Eastcote 260-4

Published: 19 May, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

HAMPSTEAD are still awaiting their first points of the season following Saturday’s dispiriting six-wicket defeat away to Eastcote. 

Having been invited to bat the visitors made a bright start with openers Francois Vainker and Brandon Buckley untroubled in an opening stand of 56 runs. 

Buckley was the first to fall when he pushed at a full ball from seamer Alan Coleman to have his off stump removed, departing with 29 runs off 41 balls. 

Vainker was soon dismissed by the same bowler for 36, but Hampstead pushed on with Imraan Mohammed and Mubasher Hassan forming another strong partnership. 

Just before lunch hesitation led to Mohammed being run out for 28, while Tim Marcon came and quickly went for a single to leave Hampstead on 131-4. 

Hassan went on to score 64 off 98 balls, including eight fours and a six, while Ed Jones marshalled the lower order on his way to scoring 60 not out. Their efforts saw Hampstead finish on 256-8 from 66 overs. 

Eastcote made their intentions clear early on as Middlesex batsman Tom Scollay smashed three boundaries from Hassan’s opening over. Fellow opener Will Prowse controlled the innings with a belligerent 95, leading Eastcote to a winning score of 260-4 off 47.3 overs.