A successful first weekend of the League season, with four wins out of six, including a terrific victory in the Middlesex Cup on Sunday against North London with Pars hitting 127.

A warm welcome to our new Aussie overseas, Matt Moran (pictured). Matt continued his good form at the weekend. On 1 May he scored 47 not out after taking 2 for 10 in the win against Saffron Walden in the National Cup. On Saturday he hit 76 against Hornsey and on Sunday took 3 for 46 against North London before seeing the Midd home with 23 not out in a fine partnership with Fergal Walter who has also started the Season very well.

Alex McQueen opening for the 1s for the first time at Hornsey exuded class in his 79. New joiner Dave O'Sullivan has bowled with pace and aggression for the 1s and looks to be an exciting mid order bat.

Here are the match Reports

1st XI vs Hornsey (a) - NMCC win by 135 runs
NMCC 294-9 (50) v Hornsey 159 (37.5) - Alex MacQueen 79, Matt Moran 76, Dave O'Sullivan 3-29

Scorecard -
https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/5081148
Highlights via Video tab on the scorecard

By Mark Williams
North Middlesex opened their campaign at neighbours Hornsey’s spacious ground, which has never looked better cared for. Most of the usual suspects assembled, but we welcomed two Antipodean signings: Dave O’Sullivan, a tall well-built fast-medium opening bowler, and Matt Moran, a powerful middle order batsman and useful right-arm seamer.
This was Hornsey’s big day; newly promoted after a few years in the first division and with a younger, rebuilt side and young skipper, they won the toss and expectantly inserted the visitors in overcast conditions on a pitch, now looked after by Oz, which looked flat but which had a tinge of green. It looked as though it would play better and better as the day progressed, so this was an important spin of the coin, and set up a fascinating first half-hour.
We were not to be disappointed as skipper Jack Bruce and George both bowled with pace, accuracy and a little seam movement. Connor Nurse and Alex MacQueen opened up tentatively and were beaten at least twice an over in the early overs as well as leaving all they could. Hornsey were bullish and well on top, and in the fourth over, Bruce moved one away from MacQueen who had to play; the edge flew low to second slip and just carried; a fine one-handed effort just failed to control the ball and the tension was relieved in the next over with 5 wides and a middled boundary.
Nonetheless, in the seventh over, George moved one away from a forward push from Nurse and had him caught behind (18-1: 6 runs: 18 balls). Evan Flowers immediately responded with a crisp boundary, soon followed by a delicious six, but it didn’t last, as Bruce had him caught behind from one he had to play (37-2:15:12) in the 10th over. Honours even then as James Parslow strode to the crease in a purposeful way; he had shown impressive concentration and form the previous Sunday, and he immediately imposed himself, not letting the bowlers settle and superbly using his feet to loft left-arm spinner Jenkins’ first ball over long-on. MacQueen was beginning to move through the gears and hit some impressive boundaries of his own with excellent timing; the pair had just added 50 in 57 balls, when the former was castled by seamer Ollennu with one that cut back (87-3: 19:18) in the 20th over; The Midd had established an ascendancy with positive controlled batting and running, and Moran, the ideal man to continue this momentum hit his second ball dismissively for a boundary.
MacQueen was by now fully in control, punishing the bad balls and never letting any bowler dominate; he reached a fine richly deserved fifty from 96 balls of responsible batting. Moran was soon playing some commanding shots of his own, hitting the ball very hard, and reached a powerful fifty in just 52 balls as both spinners were put to the sword. The former punished the return of Edwards with consecutive sixes, which completed a century partnership in just 102 balls, and he dismissively turned down an easy single to square leg from the next ball, clearly fancying further carnage; inevitably, and justly, he was castled two balls later (190-4: 79:117). This innings was a revelation, for he has been hiding in the lower middle order for years, playing the occasional impressive cameo. Well done to skipper Joel Hughes for having the gumption to open with him. He overcame initially challenging conditions to build the innings of the day which underpinned a large total: long may he continue to do so. Moran was now in total command and added a couple of powerful sixes of his own before attempting a pull to a shortish ball from George which kept low and bowled him (224-5:78:68) in the 41st over; a very impressive debut which promises great things to come.
Meanwhile Will Vanderspar was having his first net of the season in the middle, but was soon into his stride hitting a breezy 33 from 30 balls before holing out at long leg, but the innings which really impressed in the final overs came from Fergal Walter, who looked fluent off his legs from the start and continued to smite three towering sixes to finish unbeaten on 31 from just 16 balls. Hassan Khan, Matt Cracknell and Dave O’Sullivan all died in the cause, but The Midd finished on a towering 294-9 from their 50 overs. 10 over aggregates illustrate the visitors’ increasing dominance: 37:54:46:76:81, always with plenty of wickets in hand. All of the hosts bowlers bowled creditably: both spinners, Jenkins and Haynes doing a decent holding job, but the best figures came from Edwards: 10-0-71-4. It might all have been so different if the early slip chance had been accepted, but that, as they say, is cricket. Hornsey would need a good start and at least two major innings to get close.
Hughes began with an immaculate maiden: plus ca change, but O’Sullivan generated some pace and in his second over, Edwards pulled a shortish ball to Khan at mid-on (8-1:2:9), in his fourth, he moved one away from Struthers to have him pouched at 2nd slip by Parslow with deceptive ease (23-2:8:15). It took Hughes 8 overs to taste blood when Jenkins pushed tentatively forward and edged behind, neatly taken by Cracknell standing up (43-3:6:20), and in his final over he persuaded Miller to chip to O’Sullivan at mid-off (55-4:3:12). Vanderspar bowled 6 tidy overs of medium pace with ‘umph’ and picked up a wicket in each of his last two overs, having Patel caught by Moran in the gully (57-5:0:2) and the patient Haynes well held by Cracknell standing up (71-6:38:69), having had the impertinence to smite the previous ball for six. Bruce (37 from 39) and Waine (38 from 46) set about achieving some respectability and managed considerably better than that, adding 66 in 12 overs against Moran and MacQueen (obviously exhausted by their batting extortions).
It took two spectacular pieces of fielding by Parslow at cover as he threw out both of them with direct hits at the bowler’s end – he looks in fine physical shape this year! In between these collectors’ items, George managed to dispatch a long-hop from Nurse down Flowers’ throat at deep square leg with unerring accuracy, and Olennu edged O’Sullivan to Cracknell (159 all out in the 38th over) to give the bowler the best figures 7.5 0-29-3 on debut. Hughes was, as usual, immaculate on a surface which gave him little help 10-2-19-2, and the visitors had looked sharp in the field.
North Middlesex won by the substantial margin of 135 runs, but Hornsey had competed hard for much of the day. Their batsmen will have better days, but there is enough talent for them to challenge last year’s mid-table teams. Next week, The Midd host Ealing in a key encounter, and appear in good shape and ready for the fray.

2nd XI vs Highgate (h) - NMCC win by four wickets
Highgate 203-9 (45) v NMCC 208-6 (39) - Alex McDonald 84, Jem Warner 2-26, Ed Wells 2-33

https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/5081802

Highlights via Video tab on the scorecard

By Ed Wells
A new season, new players, new skipper, new umpire/cinematographer. Yes, we're back for the 2022 season with the North Midd 2nd XI, and what a first outing it was.
The 2s have had a timely influx of new blood this season. Debutants James Hearn, Alex McDonald, Tristan Lundqvist and Angus Palmer had a strong pre-season and there was great anticipation for their first league match. They were joined by Middies stalwarts in Benny Owen, Millsy, Downing, George Garrett, Dukey and Jem Warner.
Newly elected (unelected) skipper Ed Wells started his league record with a win at the toss and elected to bowl first. This followed (possibly for the first time ever) a properly organised warm-up with cones, dynamic stretching and the rest. Needless to say, Millsy didn't know what had hit him and sat out in protest after 15 minutes.
As the players took the field, Frogbox wasn't the only coverage of the match. League debutant umpire, Pujan, took on the subsidiary role of mobile "spider-cam", taking a beautifully choreographed rotating shot of the team in the huddle before taking up his position behind the stumps. Superb: a North Midd 2s "All or Nothing" is on its way.
Highgate's opening pair accumulated slowly from the bowling of Wellsy and Palmer, before Wells eventually was able to find the edge of one, snaffled gratefully by Hearn at first slip. Highgate were maybe a bit fortunate to continue unscathed, before Jem Warner came on to bowl his nine overs straight. Following what looked like an ominous partnership, Warner was able to trap Highgate's second opener in front on the stroke of drinks. Pujan's point-and-walk trigger finger is a new personal favourite. Highgate went to drinks at 100 for 2.
Things could have gone either way from here. Experience says that a team with wickets in hand at the Midd can cash in late. But not today. The last 22 overs saw one of the best fielding performances that I have seen at the Midd. Tight bowling and sharp focus in the field clamped the pressure onto Highgate, and ultimately triggered a mid-order collapse. Jem sparked the capitulation, taking a beautiful one-handed snaffle off his own bowling. Alex McDonald was a further stand-out, bowling within himself to pick up two wickets at a crucial time in the game. Garrett, as always, was invaluable at the death and took two well-deserved wickets to leave Highgate with 203 at the close.
You'd always back a team to chase at the Midd, and the boys didn't disappoint. After a somewhat shaky start, Benny Owen caught early at point and Hearny following soon after, things looked bleak. But a solid partnership from McDonald and Downing brought the game back into the balance and things were looking promising at drinks. McDonald in particular batted superbly and looked at real risk of being dropped to the 1s if he didn't kick his stumps over. He declined this option of eternal 2s glory but instead eventually chose a proper cricket dismissal edging to the keep for 84 off Highgate's off-spinner.
All in all, the 2s never looked in doubt to cruise to a four-wicket win with overs to spare. This was despite a mini-collapse within 20 runs of the target. A true team performance to start then season, and I for one couldn't be more excited to see what is to come.

3nd XI vs Richmond (h) - NMCC lose by seven wickets
NMCC 82 (31) v Richmond 83-3 (21) - Will Cracknell 12, Elliot Lowe 2-20
Scorecard -
https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/5082305

No video highlights, thanks be to God

4th XI vs Richmond (a) - NMCC lose by 41 runs
Richmond 261-7 (45) v NMCC 220 (42) - Nico Smith 79*, Huzzy Hafeji 3-50
Scorecard -
https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/5082398

5th XI vs Alexandra Park (h) - NMCC win by 151 runs
NMCC 261-7 (45) v Alexandra Park 110 (36.3) - Alex Thomas 81, Sam Hunt 4-14
Scorecard -
https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/5082844

By Alex Thomas
The 5s kicked off the season with a home game against Alexandra Park 4s. The team had a fresh look with AT as skipper and debutant seamers Sam Hunt and Matt Carlton. AT lost his first toss and so was soon taking his guard with Max Roxburgh, as Alexandra Park chose to bowl.
The partnership was quickly up and running with the help of some extras and, bizarrely, some penalty runs! The ball ricocheted onto the 'keeper's helmet, on not one, but two separate occasions in consecutive overs. Max hit a lovely six over midwicket and the partnership continued to grow as the bowlers settled into the lines and lengths. Max was then unlucky to drag one onto his stumps, but he had contributed to an opening partnership of 99.
Josh Friend couldn't quite get going before skewing on to cover. Charles also found it tricky to start as the AP bowlers kept bowling in good areas, without providing much pace to work with. Meanwhile AT had progressed past 50 and was starting to play some more expansive shots.
However, he fell short of the ton after getting a leading edge to midwicket. He was replaced by his brother Hugo who, along with Charles, started to up the rate. Their partnership was progressing nicely when Charles attempted a reverse sweep/paddle and missed it. Obviously, he had to be given out lbw. Hugo was also out lbw, though more conventionally.
Simon Fraser kept the momentum going and even hit a lovely straight six. George Domleo contrived a bizarre dismissal, bowled off his helmet after a ball reared up. The 5s eventually finished on 261 for 7, with AT's 81 setting up the total.
After tea, Sam opened the bowling and the 5s were quickly amongst the wickets. Sam took two in his first two overs, with Simon and Josh taking catches. In between, there was a farcical run out, with one batsman not setting off until his partner had reached the same end as him. The throw was a bit off target and 'keeper George did well to break the stumps in time. Sam claimed two further wickets, with George taking two contrasting catches. The first was a fantastic catch, diving forward to take it inches off the turf, while the second could not have been easier, as it looped straight into his gloves.
At 14 for 4, the 5s were eyeing up an early finish, but AP managed to put together a partnership to take them to drinks. The 5s came back after the break with renewed vigour and Matt Carlton got the key wicket, swinging one and hitting the top of middle and sending the bails flying. One of the bails even flew down to Abhiraj at fine leg, who caught it on the full! Josh and George Dean then combined to knock over the tail.
Both bowlers got their wickets in the same ways: one bowled and one caught at mid-off by Charles. AP were all out for 110, with Max and Abhiraj also bowling good spells without reward. An emphatic win to start the season and onto Hornsey away next week!

Middlesex Cup, Round 1
1st XI vs North London (a) - NMCC win by eight wickets
North London 290-6 (45) v NMCC 291-2 (40-5) - James Parslow 127, George Garrett 84, Matt Moran 3-46
Scorecard -
https://northmid.play-cricket.com/website/results/5218473

No match report but a terrific batting performance on an excellent pitch. Parslow's hundred was imperious, Garrett's 84 was the first 50 of his life. Thanks to those who formed a skeleton Sunday 1st XI, and great to beat three Shepherd's Cott clubs on the same weekend. We go again next Sunday in the National Cup at Chelmsford.