MIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
MTSSC XI 245-5
Bessborough 128-5
Losing draw for Bessborough
BESSBOROUGH picked up a point at Headstone Manor from an attritional losing draw against Middlesex Tamil Sports & Social Club (MTSSC).
MTSSC put in a solid performance with the bat but Borough proved stubborn at the crease as they held on to claim a share of the points.
Bessborough won the toss and skipper Danny Hawes elected to bowl. Missing regular strike bowler Ian Barrie, Hawes gave the new ball to pace man Nirav Ghantiwala and spinner Nitin Modha.
It was Ghantiwala who claimed the first scalp when Jay Chavda caught Niroshan Sritharan (7) in the fifth over.
Five overs later MTSSC were 25-2 as Ghantiwala bowled David Devadoss for 10.
The opposition steadily rebuilt their innings with partnerships of 52 and 47 for the third and fourth wickets respectively. Modha (0-87), who bowled non-stop for 25 overs, was doing a good job of denying runs.
However, that changed after the fall of the fourth wicket with MTSSC and some big shots saw MTSSC close out their 55 overs on 245-5.
A slow and solid opening stand of 58 between Hawes (38) and Tharshan Kanagaraj (25) set the tone for the Bessborough innings.
New overseas player Alexander Haniff showed glimpses of his potential with a tidy 39 as the home side finished on 128-5 from 47 overs.
Meanwhile, Bessborough seconds lost by nine wickets away to Enfield, while the thirds were crushed by 161 runs at Twickenham.
It was left to the fourth team to pick up Bessborough’s only win of the weekend with a convincing 108-run victory over Crouch End.
On Sunday, Bessborough’s involvement in the Middlesex Country KO Cup ended at the first hurdle as Acton inflicted a nine-wicket drubbing.
Meanwhile, in Division Two, Pinner were beaten by five wickets against Swamibapa.
