The weather was Acton up for both sides in that neck of the West London woods on Saturday.
Ickenham enjoyed the best of a dodgy climate in their clash with Old Actonians in Middlesex Championship Division One. The opposition rattled up 235-8 in 55 overs with Paul Sims (80) rescuing the situation from 83-5 in overcast conditions.
Old A’s were going well on 61-1 after 16 overs before the heavens opened.
When they returned there was a steady trickle of forlorn hopes trooping back to the pavilion, although Old A’s were just two desperate runs from a winning draw at 157-9.
"Unfortunately, the rain came to ruin what was setting up an exciting run chase against Brentham,” lamented Alex Brennan at the other Acton in Middlesex Division Two.
“When the heavens opened, we were 12 runs behind a winning draw run-rate, which was frustrating,” added the captain.
Sahil Kher was going strong on 38no - but 25 overs was never enough to claim anything but a losing draw.
There was just as much frustration for Ealing when a six-match winning run came to a halt against Teddington.
The Middlesex Premiership leaders were held up just as much by the opposition plodding their way to 296-7 off 66 as the weather.
Brothers Oli (88) and Mylo Wilkin (35) put on 93 for the opening Ealing wicket in reply, and when Mylo fell, Robbie White (66) thrashed 64 in double quick time to offer hope of a win.
The rain fell, and so did the Ealing timber to leave them marooned on 229-7 with only four points for a winning draw.
There was a sliver lining the followiing day when Ealiing beat Radlett to reach the last 16 of the National Knockout Cup, and then beat Osterley on Monday night to make the semi-final of the Middlesex T20 semi-final.
There was just a single point for Shepherd’s Bush in their losing draw with Wembley.
The other team made 208-8 off 55 overs, but in worsening conditions Bush were 141-7 at the close with Ian Massey’s 42 the one batting highlight.
It was also heavy weather for Perivale Phoenicians in their Middlesex Division One game at Osterley.
After a first PP win of the season last week, the side from down the road scuppered hopes of a second when they made excellent use of a short boundary to thump, and sometimes mishit, their way to 316-3.
PP put their back into the asking total, but when Naveed Syed (46) and Bilal ‘Billy’ Ali (23) departed, it was slow going until the inevitable rain at 97-4.
When the covers were removed again, Avi Murthy (27) offered brief resistance, but Osterley spectacularly removed the rest of the Perivale innings in just three overs to leave them all out 122.
