Park Road club beat Hampstead by 109 runs in Middlesex County Premier Division last weekend

North Middlesex captain Joel Hughes says his side do not fear Richmond ahead of the meeting between the sides in the final of this year’s Middlesex County KO Cup on Saturday.

The showpiece event takes place at Ealing’s Corfton Road ground this weekend, with a start time of 11.30am.

In the final, North Midd will come up against a Richmond side who have already lifted the Middlesex County Premier Division title this term, losing just one game in the league all season.

But Hughes insists the Park Road club, who finished third in the top flight, are not daunted by the prospect of playing Richmond on Saturday.

“If we look back to the games we’ve had against Richmond in the league this season, they have been fairly even, even if they have won both of them,” said Hughes.

“Over the years that I’ve been with North Middlesex, we have beaten Richmond and we’re looking to do it again on Saturday.

“We’re a side that does have a few players capable of being match-winners, so the focus is on us as we know we have an opportunity to win.”

North Middlesex will head into the final buoyed by a 109-run triumph away to Hampstead in their final league game of the season last weekend.

Batting first, the Park Road club amassed a daunting 307-7 from their 50 overs after half-centuries from James Parslow (77), Luke Hollman (71) and Tom Nicoll (70 not out).

Hollman then shone with the ball as he took 4-57 to help bowl Hampstead out for just 198 in reply.

It was a terrific all-round display from Hollman against Hampstead, and Hughes was happy to see the promising youngster end the league season in fine form.

“Luke has been phenomenal all season long and to still get 500 runs and 36 wickets despite missing five games in the league is superb,” said the North Midd skipper.

“Having someone that bowls leg spin with the quality Luke does is fantastic as it makes it difficult for the opposition batsmen to cope.

“In the nicest way possible, I hope we don’t see too much of Luke in the next couple of years and that he gets more chances with Middlesex, but we’re more than happy to have him play for us if he doesn’t.”