Building partnerships turned out to be problematic for Highgate as they slid to a five-wicket defeat at Harrow St Mary’s in Division Two of the Middlesex County Cricket League – their second loss in a row.

Highgate skipper Jake Sharland won the toss and elected to bat, but his side were unable to muster any stand above 34 as they struggled to a total of 170-6 from 45 overs.

Although Ed Foster captured two early wickets, the target never looked likely to cause HSM too much difficulty and they duly knocked off the runs with almost 10 overs to spare.

Sharland got the visitors off to a brisk start, hitting 24 from 27 balls before he was caught behind off Nishad Patel, and opening partner Chris Arul contributed 29 as Highgate reached a healthy 88-2.

Unfortunately, Arul finished the innings as top scorer, with none of the remaining batsmen able to build on promising starts.

Muazam Ali (21) and Sandun Dias (17) fell to Sikander Randhawa (3-30), and it was a similar story for Will Brookes (14), Philip Knott (20) and Craig Gourlay (19 not out), with Foster (2) and Freddie Barrass (9) helping to boost the Highgate total.

Foster (2-39) gave his side fresh hope of defending their score when HSM replied, trapping Armaan Randhawa (4) leg before and taking a return catch to remove Nikin Ruparelia (19).

That left the home side in an unsteady position at 26-2 – but Ajay Soni and Tom Pettet did what Highgate had failed to do and put together a significant partnership of 95 for the third wicket.

Dias, who took 1-18, broke the stand by bowling Pettet (42), but Kunj Thakkar (18no) kept Soni company as he ushered HSM towards the finish line.

Gourlay (2-38) eventually had Soni stumped for 77 and then dismissed Lakmal Kasthuri for a first-ball duck – but it was too little, too late as the home side clinched victory at 172-5 in the 36th over.

Meanwhile, in Division Three, Hussain Shabbir’s knock of 86 was not enough to secure North London’s first win of the season as they were edged out by two wickets against Bessborough.

Shabbir held the home side’s innings together after they were put in, with Ralph Pedersen (13), Alan O’Shea (14) and Jordan Gregory (24) the only other batsmen to reach double figures as NL were bowled out for 168 in the 44th over.

Despite good bowling from Gregory (3-21), Tom Wakeford (2-22) and Sam Bardon (2-34), Ian Barrie’s 64 ensured that Bessborough squeezed home at 169-8.