Sam Bardon played a captain’s innings as North London clung on for a point at Osterley to extend their unbeaten run in Middlesex County League Division Three to five games.

Bardon held his side’s innings together with a knock of 70 from 120 balls but, once he was eighth man out, it was left to Ralph Pedersen to ensure that they batted out their overs and avoided defeat.

Osterley opted to bat after winning the toss and quickly amassed runs as Manoj Prasanga (38) and Laeeq Ahmad (39) compiled an opening stand of 82.

Matt Rosson (3-52) removed both openers, as well as having Kamran Ali caught behind for a third-ball duck to reduce the visitors to 83-3, but Abid Ahmed put them firmly back in control with a swift hundred.

Ahmed bludgeoned 14 fours and five sixes in his innings of 118, sharing a fifth-wicket century partnership with Usman Khan (42) before he was eventually leg before to Jordan Gregory (2-102).

The declaration came soon afterwards at 276-6 from 48 overs – a total that looked daunting for North London and their reply soon slid into difficulties.

Naveed Hanif (3-24) picked up the early wickets of Hussain Shabbir (6), Simon Mintoft (5) and Will Lake (2), with Milo Jennings (10) also departing to leave NL in deep trouble at 39-4.

Bardon steadied the ship in tandem with Jack Atchinson (9) and Gregory, who struck 35 from 31 deliveries, but wickets continued to fall and the dismissal of Bardon forced NL to shut up shop.

Pedersen, with an undefeated 15, took the lion’s share of the strike while last man Rosson (0 not out) survived four balls as the home side held on to finish on 188-9 from 52 overs.