Newly-crowned Middlesex Indoor League champions, Harrow St Mary's, missed out on a place in the regional finals of the National Cup after their first round defeat to Whitham CC at Braintree.

HSM, who secured the title after beating Barnet Indoor League winners Finchley by two wickets at Mill Hill School recently, failed to rein in Whitham, the Essex Indoor League champions, who raced into 70 without loss after just six overs.

Good running between the wickets and wayward bowling from HSM enabled Whitham to post 152 off their 12 overs.

In reply, Harrow enjoyed a productive opening spell before Colt Waqas Hussain fell in the fourth over, and was soon followed by Kunj Thakrar, out first ball.

Tom Pettet steadied the innings before retiring on 25 but wicketkeeper Gary Pettet, HSM captain Tony Wright and Ian Ridley all fell cheaply. Tom Pettet returned but the run rate was too high and, with no wickets in hand, HSM fell short of the target.

* HSM's U11s team maintained their 100 percent record with two crushing victories at the top of the North Area Indoor leagues, despite not being able to field their strongest team or possess a full compliment of players.

HSM smashed Bessborough by 97 runs despite scoring a below par 164 for two off their 12 overs. Amar Davie (32), Krishan Shah (31) and Deven Patel (30) were the chief run getters.

In reply, Borough could only muster 67 for six with Krishan Shah (two for 15) and a miserly Deven Patel (nought for three off three overs) being the pick to the twirlers.

MTSCC were up next for the Saints juggernaut and they were on the end of a 135 run beating. Saints scored 192 for two off their 12 overs with Rohan Radia (34) Angus Prevost (33) and Kushal Patel (30), all being retired out.

In response MTSCC were restricted to a meager 57 for four with Deven Patel (two for eight) the star performer with the ball.