North Middlesex will hope to successfully defend their title this weekend

North Middlesex skipper Tom Nicoll hopes to be celebrating this weekend with his club due to face Ealing in the final of the Middlesex League T20 competition.

The two sides are due to face off on Sunday, with the match set to start at 2pm at Brondesbury’s Harman Drive ground.

Including this season, North Middlesex have qualified for the past four finals, winning in 2014 and 2016.

However, they were beaten in 2015 by Ealing, though Nicholl is confident history will not repeat itself this weekend.

“It’s our fourth final in as many years, so that shows that we are a good T20 teams,” said Nicoll.

“T20 games are a bit more relaxed than the league matches, so that will help us in the final.”

Prior to their T20 final with Ealing, North Middlesex host Southgate in the Middlesex Premier Division on Saturday.

Nicoll’s men will be hoping to build on last weekend’s result when they recorded a first win in three with a one-wicket success at Finchley.

After losing the toss, the visitors were put into the field as Finchley looked to make the most of favourable batting conditions.

However, both Ravi Patel (4-44) and Nicoll (3-102) took wickets to check the hosts’ progress, before they were all out for 234.

In reply, a fifth-wicket stand of 155 from James Parslow (100) and Charlie MacLeod (54) looked to set North Middlesex well on their way to success.

Parslow’s departure, though, signalled the start of a slump for the visitors as they fell from 223-4 to 232-9 and looked in danger of losing, before Patel hit the winning runs.

It was a thrilling end to proceedings for North Middlesex, though perhaps a lot tenser than Nicoll would have liked.

“Were happy with the result, but by no stretch was it our best display of the season. It was good for some guys to get runs, but we know we can improve our batting,” he added.

“Credit to James and Charlie who were both brilliant in their partnerships. James’ innings was probably the best we’ve had from anyone so far this season.

“Before that, Ravi also did well with the ball and kept it tight in his overs as well was taking wickets.”

It could be a highly successful weekend for North Middlesex — as long as they triumph on both Saturday and Sunday!