Latest news from local cricket scene with Brondesbury suffering a loss, but Shepherds Bush edging a thriller

A 77-run ninth wicket stand from captain Tom Nicoll and Joel Hughes saw North Middlesex earn bragging rights at home to local rivals Hampstead in the Middlesex League Premier Division at the weekend.

North Middlesex looked doomed at 170-8 before Hughes joined Nicoll at the crease and the pair produced a solid display, scoring a respective unbeaten 58 and 27 to edge them to victory.

Hampstead had won the toss and opted to bat first, with opener George Adair (107) a mainstay of the innings before becoming one of Luke Hollman’s (3-40) wickets.

Meaningful contributions also came from fellow opening batsman Mubasher Hassan (38), Garth Davson (24) and Steve Clark (38), but they would have been ruing their collapse from 213-3 to 246-9 at the end of their allotted overs.

Every North Middlesex bowler chipped in with a wicket, but Adam Price (2-45) was next best behind Hollman.

In reply, the hosts looked doomed as opening bowlers Andrew Hazledine (3-37) and Clark (2-36) had reduced them to 87-5.

But Will Vandespar hit 74 from just 73 balls to keep them in the hunt, but that looked in vain as they slipped to 170-8.

Hughes was the 10th man in and he provided good company for Nicoll as they managed to grab victory from the jaws of defeat.

Meanwhile, 41 from Finn Allen couldn’t help Brondesbury as they slumped to a 69-run loss to Richmond.

Bowling first, some tight opening bowling from Sam Smith (2-37) and Adam Wilson (1-21) helped them keep the score down despite 82 from opening batsman Ben Compton.

Richmond set Brondesbury a total of 206 to chase, but they soon found themselves in trouble at 22-3 in the reply.

Allen and Jordan Bethel (24) provided some resistance but when the latter was dismissed, Brondesbury were 86-4 and despite some double figure scores down the order, they fell well short of victory.

David Burton proved to be the chief destroyer early on with the ball for Richmond as he picked up figures of 3-18 from his seven overs, before Matthew Dickinson (5-23) mopped up the middle and lower order.

Shepherds Bush were involved in a thriller at Finchley, but managed to come through with four balls remaining.

The hosts won the toss and batted first at Arden Field and managed to score 264-6 from their allotted 50 overs.

Oliver James impressed for Bush with figures of 2-39, while James Kidson (2-44) and William Speer (2-60) also nabbed braces.

Andrew Wilson’s team made an excellent start to the chase and Ben Davies and Tom Cox put on 122 for the second wicket.

Number three Cox fell for 69 and opener Davies went soon after for 57, but Alex Blofield picked up the baton.

It seemed like Bush were going to cruise home, but Blofield went for 56 and the visitors went from 240-4 to 261-7.

James held his nerve, however, to conclude a good day by finishing unbeaten on 11 to see the away side over the line.