Week 2 Round-up - 3's with the only win over a disappointing weekend

After a thrilling opening day victory over reigning champions Hampstead, North Middlesex travelled to Eastcote in search of back to back wins to start the season. Having suffered a sizeable defeat at the hands of Ealing in their last game, Eastcote were lacking confidence and the Crouch End club felt they had the opportunity to take advantage. Bowling first, North Midd allowed Eastcote to get off to a flying start with 20 runs from the first two overs. That rate was brought to an abrupt halt soon after, as openers Nick Brand (4-52) and Rich Carroll (1-14) struck with a series of quick wickets to leave the hosts reeling on XX-4. After removing Carpal Sagoo in the fourth over of the innings Brand proceeded to take two more wickets in two balls in dismissing Lotay and James, and after Carroll followed up with another in the next over North Midd had taken three wickets in four balls to gain complete control. Runs dried up for Eastcote as Joel Hughes and Jaron Semper (1-29) were introduced to the attack, Hughes (3-12) in particular showing wonderful consistency as he continues to recover from injury. Eastcote gradually built a partnership as the Australian overseas Joshua Sandberg remained stubborn, carefully rebuilding to give the hosts a chance of posting a score. Wickets continued to fall at steady intervals, and the innings was soon brought to a close as Brand and Hughes took the final two wickets to leave Eastcote 130 all out. Despite the low target, North Middlesex knew that the chase would not be easy but were confident of achieving victory. The innings got off to a shaky start as New Zealand overseas Mitch Murray was out bowled in the first over. Evan Flowers, playing his first game of the season, showed flashes of his ability with a delightful six over extra cover but was soon dismissed for XX. After skipper Tom Nicoll followed shortly after, the Midd were reeling at 13-3 and there was a sense of deja vu following their batting performance against Hampstead last week. Adam Holmes (20) showed his usual grit to help start the rebuilding process alongside Will Nicoll, but wickets continued to fall. The returning Alex Hill shared a good partnership with W Nicoll (37) as both applied themselves well, but North Midd's hopes were dashed after both fell in quick succession. North Middlesex were soon dismissed for 117, slipping to a frustrating defeat. Despite the positives of a strong bowling performance and a very good innings from W Nicoll this was a game they really should have won. Chasing down targets is never easy, but with the talent in their side the Midd see this as an opportunity missed to put another 10 points on the board.

After a real off day last time out against our old sparring partners at Hampstead, it was good to be back at fortress Park Road for the first time since beating Richmond to secure the 2015 title. Equally reassuring was the lack of Harrow St Mary’s IPL gun batsman who rather enjoyed the inviting boundaries last time the sides met. Shorn of inspirational skipper Patrick Parker owing to a fairly dislocated shoulder, as well as his subsequent replacements in Messrs Cracknell, Roberts and Sheppard, it meant a return to captaincy for Lakey – just one game after hanging up his captaincy boots. And with a much-changed side, it was a case of normal service resumed for the 3s. Losing the toss and being invited to field, there followed an exceptional display of disciplined bowling and energetic fielding. Led by Dre (1-30) and George Garrett, who bowled magnificently with the new ball, Harrow were squeezed into submission, forced into a series of, at best, tight singles. The result was three run-outs – two to Alex Lowe at backward point on his Midd debut and a third to another debutant, Phil Victor. Victor would have affected a fourth run-out, had Nick Friend not headbutted the stumps whilst receiving the throw. Nick Townson followed up the job done by the openers with a seriously good spell, picking up 3-11 from his seven overs. Friendy chipped in with two cheap wickets, the second the rankest of longhops. Phil and Townson polished up the tail to leave the Midd needing 130 to claim a first win of the season. Friendy and Gaurav opened up and got off to a quick start, making good use of a really good early season deck. Gaurav perished for a valuable 20-odd, bringing Lakey to the crease. All went smoothly, with Lakey depositing the penultimate ball before drinks into North London and Friendy hitting his first ever homers at the ground after a nine-year wait. Lakey was dismissed with 30 still needed and Mikey Edwards continued the day’s theme by running himself out. Nick’s Townson and Friend saw the game home, with Friendy (52*) rounding off proceedings with a bomb that just about reached the sightscreen. All things considered after a testing week availability-wise, a real top class effort to win so convincingly. No TFCs in what was an exceptional group effort in the field. Special mentions to 5s skipper Arj and Olly Morgan who both came in at fairly late notice after the 5s game was cancelled, to Alfie Buxton for stepping in so seamlessly as our 11th man for the first 30 overs, to Alex Lowe and Phil Victor making their Midd debuts and to Lakey for taking back into the reins after Paddy’s injury and Shep’s late 2s call up. All in all, a job well done. More of the same next week away at Teddington.

Douglas Eyre was looking picture as the 4s arrived for the first home game of the season. Thanks to the work of groundsman Paul, the wicket and outfield - despite short boundaries - were looking the best many seasoned observers could remember. And not a goose turd in sight. Unfortunately, skipper Burgoyne lost the toss again and we were duly inserted by the oppo. After losing Richard early, Pistol, promoted to opener, proceeded to smash the ball to all parts and infuriate their opening bowler. After he departed for a quickfire 49 (jug avoidance) the skipper attempted to dog it out at one end as wickets fell steadily at the other. He eventually fell for 33 to Eastcote's promising young leggie. Enter 4s legend Davie Shields who taught the youngster a lesson by repeatedly smashing him back over his head. Undaunted, the young spinner bowled with admirable control to finish with a five-for as North Midd subsided to 157 all out. Shields: 32. It was never likely to be enough on a pretty flat track. Again, we showed good spirit in the field but Eastcote batted steadily to reach the target for just two down. The highlight of our bowling was the ever lively Sam Masud who had gone from' my back's gone, I can't play', to 'I'll play but only as a batter', to 'give the ball skip, I'm ready'. Masud charged in with pace and one or two choice words of advice for the batters but it wasn't enough.