MIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Osterley 125 all out

Bessborough 116 all out

Osterley won by nine runs

BESSBOROUGH’S promotion hopes suffered a major blow at Osterley on Saturday as they narrowly missed out in a low run-chase, writes Simon Heaney.

Having beaten the same side by 10 wickets in the home fixture a couple of weeks ago, Bessborough captain Dan Hawes looked to repeat the successful formula of bowling first.

And it did not take long for Bessborough to find their way into the game as Ian Barrie (2-22) claimed the first wicket in the third over and soon after colt Akshay Hirani bagged two wickets in two balls.

Rohan Karkhanis (3-34) tightened things up further with his clever spin bowling, making Osterley work hard for their runs.

Hirani then bowled full attacking lengths and ended up with 4-35 from 13 overs as Osterley finished on 125 after 40 overs.

Bessborough started poorly in response as they slumped to 25-4 wickets after 15 overs.

It took a forty-run partnership between Barrie and Andy Carr (26) to steady the ship, with both batsmen taking the attack to the bowlers, before Carr played a leading edge and was caught out.

Despite that setback, Borough were still looking on target at 100-6 before the loss of three wickets for no runs turned things dramatically around in Osterley’s favour.

Even then, a valiant last-wicket partnership between Hirani and Nirav Ghantiwala got Borough to within nine runs of victory before Hirani was caught out to end an exciting but ultimately frustrating day for Bessborough.

The result leaves Bessborough in joint-fourth of the Middlesex Championship Division One after six rounds, some 28 points off leaders MTSSC.

Bessborough’s seconds were skittled for just 79, chasing another low target of 130 set by Edmonton in their Middlesex County Cricket League Division 3 clash.

The thirds missed out on the chance of going top of the 1987 Cricket League Division One as they succumbed to a three-wicket defeat away to MTSSC thirds.

Bessborough fourth string collected maximum points by default as Turnham Green couldn’t raise a team.