Captain hails matchwinning partnership

North Middlesex captain Tom Nicoll was full of praise for the winning partnership of Evan Flowers and James Parslow away at Richmond on Saturday.

The pair shared a stand of 110 for the fourth wicket, as Flowers hit an unbeaten 77, his highest score of the season in a three-wicket win in the Middlesex League Premier Division.

Nicoll said: “Evan and James batted well and with maturity, I think it settled down the game and the opposition, that definitely won us the game, it was a winning partnership.”

Having won the toss and sent the home side into bat, North Middlesex had Richmond in some early trouble as they reduced them to 20-3.

But Adam London hit a measured 47 for the hosts and Bhavesh Pankhania finsished unbeaten on 43 to set the visitors 190 to win.

“I think it was the right decision to bowl first because we won the game,” added Nicoll.

“I’m always a bit nervous about bowling first in this league, but Joel Hughes bowled well early on and took two important wickets.”

North Middlesex were soon 6-2 in reply, but then the stand from Flowers and Parslow put them back in contention.

Parslow was dismissed for 44, but despite a middle-order collapse, a quickfire 31 off 29 balls from number eight Adam Price steered North Middlesex to Victory.

“When James Parslow got out I think that gave them (Richmond) a sniff, but Adam came in at eight and hit it around,“ said a relieved Nicoll, whose side will now be looking ahead to a home fixture against in form Ealing, knowing that a victory will lift them into second and maybe even to the top of the table.