MIDDLESEX COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
South Hampstead 105 all out
Harrow St Mary’s 109-3
Harrow St Mary’s won by seven wickets
TRIUMPHANT Harrow St Mary’s finished the season as Middlesex County Cricket League Division Three champions on Saturday.
The Saints romped to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over South Hampstead to finish five points clear of second-placed Uxbridge in the final standings.
It was important that the visitors got off to a decent start to settle their end of season nerves and having won the toss they decided to install South Hampstead at the crease.
James Williams opened confidently for the hosts and formed a promising partnership that had the away fans a little worried in the opening stages.
But the duo soon crumbled as Lakmal Kasthuri dismissed Williams for 20, the first of his four wickets, and Anderson went for 14, despite threatening to reach much greater heights.
Haran Dharmaraja, who also finished up with a four-wicket haul, then claimed the number three batsman for a duck as St Mary’s started to take control.
Tail-ender Majid Akram hit 30 to top score for the home side but his resistance was not matched by his team-mates as South Hampstead were all out for just 105.
That total was well within reach for a team that has dominated Division Three this term, but the Saints gave their supporters an early scare.
The opening stand of Sam Blennerhassett and Harmeet Panny failed to make an impression, the latter facing just three balls without registering a single run.
But the reliable Robert van der Ross came up with a useful 41 to steady the nerves that had built from their disappointing start with the bat.
Tom Pettet hit an unbeaten 47, including six big fours, and was joined by Kunj Thakkar who finished unbeaten on two as the Saints surpassed the total with seven wickets to spare.
The result means Harrow St Mary’s will be playing Division Two cricket next season.
It marks the end of a great year for the club that also saw their seconds finish as league runners-up, while the thirds and Sunday firsts were also crowned champions.
