Hiren Desai’s team travel to Wembley this weekend looking to build on their stunning cup victory over Premier Division Ealing

Crouch End vice-captain Pratik Patel is hoping Sunday’s victory over Ealing in the National Club Championship second round is the start of a successful season for the club, but has warned the team the hard work begins now.

The Calthorpe outfit produced a massive shock in the prestigious competition last weekend when they defeated the 2017 Middlesex County League Premier Division champions by three runs.

Ealing, who won the National T20 Cup in 2011 and 2015, were dismissed for 148 when chasing down Crouch End’s total of 151 and it gave the visiting Division Three team a famous scalp.

Patel said: “I hope this can be a massive step in the right direction for the club because we’ve never been known as a team who can compete against the best sides.

“We’ve always been a lower division club, but last year we got promoted and now we have got this type of victory. Hopefully it can help put Crouch End CC on the map, but we know we have a lot more hard work ahead of us.”

After beating Ealing in a tight contest on Sunday, Hiren Desai’s team now turn their focus back to Division Three cricket.

This weekend they visit fifth-placed Wembley who have the same number of points as Crouch End after two games – 11.

Desai’s team are unbeaten with one win and one abandonment to their name after last Saturday’s match at Harrow Town fell foul of the wet weather.

Patel added: “We were 110-1 off 13 overs and I’m pretty confident we would have done well had the rain not interrupted things.

“Overall we have had a pretty good start in the league with the win against Middlesex Tamil the previous Saturday.”

Crouch End are well aware life in Division Three may not remain as smooth as it has been so far and the squad have been warned not to rest on their laurels after the win at Ealing.

Jalpesh Vijay top scored with 64 in the visitors total of 151 with Poojan Vyas (30), Darshan Depala (21*) and Nilesh Patel (21) chipping in with vital scores.

Amandeep Dhaliwal was the chief destroyer with the ball and finished with 4-32 and claimed the last wicket with the penultimate ball of the match.

Pratik Patel (2-13), Chetan Depala (2-30) and Desai (2-22) also played a part in the thrilling win.

“We have told the squad we need to knuckle down and work even harder now,” said Crouch End’s vice-captain.

“After coming up this year we knew we would be a little bit of an unknown to teams in Division Three, but after this result we have to make sure we prepare even harder.

“We are not always thinking about the outcome, we just want to focus on the process and practise really well and play to the best of our ability.

“If we can do that hopefully the results will look after themselves, but we know Saturday will be tough.”