PINNER boosted their promotion hopes after inflicting a first defeat of the season on Middlesex Championship Division Two lead-ers Glaxo.

The pace-setters were on the ropes at 122 for eight before a fine innings of 72 not out by Jean Jaques took the score to 209 for eight off 55 overs.

Hamish Kumar took the bowling honours with 5-54, while support came via Hedge (1-24), Ranjit Bagwe (1-42) and Thakkar (1-50).

In reply, Sagar Panaskar crashed home 19 boundaries in his 94, with Bagwe (34) and Kumar (26) chipping in along the way as Pinner eased home with 12 balls and four wickets to spare.

Pinner seconds almost made it a double celebration over Glaxo but the division lead-ers held out for a two-wicket victory.

Asif Khan hit an unbeaten 36 as Pinner crumbled for 118, a target eventually reached by the visitors in the face of some tight bowling.

Mark Amedee (2-34), Tushar Pathik (2-33) and Chintal Parikh (3-38) made them sweat before they got over the finishing line.