MIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
MTSSC 202 all out (51.4 overs)
Bessborough 104 all out (45.1 overs)
MTSSC won by 98 runs
BESSBOROUGH blew a golden opportunity to get themselves back in the promotion mix by losing at leaders MTSSC.
Boro had the table-toppers hosts on the rack at one stage but failed to make their pressure count and slipped to a 98-run defeat.
Captain Danny Hawes won the toss and opted to take to the field and opening pace bowler Nirav Ghantiwala (2-45) vindicated that decision by removing both MTSSC openers cheaply.
First change spinner Alexander Haniff (4-48) took a wicket with his first delivery and another in his second over.
When he and spin partner Rohan Karkhanis (1-35) picked off another couple, the home side were in disarray at 80-6.
However, the Tamils showed why they are top of the league with some dogged lower order partnerships of 36, 36, 34 and 17, with number seven Ashok Andrew (57 not out) the guiding hand.
MTSSC were eventually all out for 202 after opening bowler Jay Chavda (2-49) returned to clean up the tail.
Despite losing Tharshan Kanagaraj (4) in the second over, Bessborough were looking comfortable on 55-1 as Hawes and Haniff set about reaching the target.
The game changed when Kavi Kannathasan (3-23) was brought on in the nineteenth over and removed Haniff (20) and Adil Parker (0) in quick succession. When Hawes (32) was caught and bowled by David Devadoss (2-14) soon after, the writing was on the wall with Bessborough on 63-4.
Apart from Ghantiwala (25) the rest of the Bessborough batsmen surrendered meekly as they collapsed to 104 all out with the last nine wickets falling for an embarrassing 49 runs.
The defeat drops Bessborough into seventh place in the Middlesex Championship, 20 points behind leaders MTSSC Next up is a crucial home match against second-placed Osterley.
The second eleven ended a four-game losing streak in the Middlesex County Cricket League Division Three with a creditable losing draw against promotion chasing Enfield.
Bessborough did well to restrict Enfield to 237-5 declared after 51 overs. Colt and regular third team spinner Dillon Maloney (2-38) performed well, as did fellow spinner Mitesh Vyas (2-40). In reply, all of Bessborough’s batsmen got starts, although none went on to make a decisive total, Mark Emanuel top scoring with 33.
In the end, Bessborough scored 178-6 from 49 overs to claim a valuable point that will hopefully mark a turnaround in fortunes for the rest of the season.
The third eleven won their second game in a row with a narrow 24-run home win against Twickenham.
Bessborough fourths lost to Crouch End despite U17s player Harshil Sumaria showing his potential with a brilliant spell of bowling, taking 4-16 in 6.1 overs.
