MIDDLESEX COUNTY LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

North Middlesex 103-3

Harrow Town 100 all out

Harrow Town lost by seven wickets

HARROW Town’s batting collapsed once again as North Middlesex’s Ed Bird tore them to shreds.

Bird took five wickets to sweep Town aside on Saturday and leave the strugglers hovering dangerously above the drop zone.

He strangled the efforts of Town’s batsmen, bowling four maidens in his nine-over spell and conceding just 14 runs to dismiss the visitors for just 100.

Opener Vish Jadunath (five) was the first to fall, yorked by Nick Brand (3-20). Aim Mohammed (nought) and Buddhi Attanayake (two) came and went quickly as Town slumped to 43-4.

Ammar Arshad (25) and Uzair Mohammed (36) managed a decent partnership, but once Arshad had gone, Town lost their last five wickets for 29 runs.

Town knew they needed quick wickets to put any kind of pressure on North Middlesex, but only Uzair Mohammed (2-18) could make any inroads.

The home side’s batsmen cruised to victory in 20 overs with the loss of only three wickets.

Skipper Gihan Herath was left scratching his head after last week’s victory over league leaders Brondesbury.

He said: “Our batting is very strong when it clicks and it’s really disappointing to see the batting today. We know we can beat anyone on our day but the boys must focus and ensure they bat for long periods of time.”

Elsewhere, Harrow Town seconds pulled off a remarkable victory over bottom club Old Actonians at Rayners Lane.

In a rain-affected match, Old Actonians lost the toss and were put into bat.

They managed to make 218-8 off 45 overs, leaving Town 43 overs to bat for victory.

Harrow were 68-6 and staring at defeat before Mayur Naik (107 not out) and Yunus Shafi (27) put on 70 for the seventh wicket.

Shafi fell but Atif Siddique (25 not out) guided Town to victory, leaving them second in the table.

? Harrow Town Ladies beat their Ickenham counterparts by 25 runs in a close-fought match at the weekend.

Millan Mei Zhang made 56 runs and Remy Miao Yu chipped in with 30. Nehal Dave took three wickets with the ball.