Hampstead attack wallows in the rain

Published: September 1, 2011
CRICKET with STEVE BARNETT

Middlesex County League
Premier Division
Hampstead 166 ao, Richmond 92-6

BAD weather denied Hampstead’s bowlers the chance to push on for a much-needed victory on Saturday in their restricted-overs match away at Richmond.

Once again the visitors struggled with the bat as they scored just 166 all out off 63.2 overs.

Tom Forsdike managed just two runs before losing his wicket, while fellow opener Matt Kabir Floyd was dismissed for 21 off 85 balls.

Brandon Buckley (pictured) is also still struggling to find his form as he scored just eight off eight balls before being caught by Ami Banerjee off the bowling of Craig Dand. 

Only Mubasher Hassan and Tom Smith offered any real resistance as they scored 48 and 38 runs respectively to give Hampstead a fighting chance of taking all 10 points.

Zac Khan increased those chances with two early wickets, while a brilliant 15-over spell from Smith gave the Hampstead players even more hope as he took 4-31.

In the end, however, Richmond held out to take a winning-draw courtesy of their faster run-rate as they finished play on 92-6 off 29.4 overs.

Wootton fires North to damp draw

Division Two
Enfield 223-6
North Middlesex 173-7

NORTH Middlesex also saw their home match against Enfield affected by the rain as they were held to a winning draw at Shepherds Cot.

Opener Mark Hanley top-scored for the visitors with 55 runs as they declared after 50 overs on 223-6.

Will Wootton tried his best to keep the pressure on Enfield as he took 4-59 in an 18-over spell, which included four maidens.

The hosts were always going to be up against it with the bad weather restricting the overs in the game. Zulfi Azom and Joe Hewton did their best to force a result as they both scored 55.

Their efforts didn’t go completely unrewarded as North Midd took four points thanks to their faster run-rate after ending play on 173-7 off 37 overs.