MIDDLESEX COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE – 1ST XI DIVISION ONE
Winchmore Hill 289-4
Stanmore 101 all out
Winchmore Hill won by 188 runs
STANMORE continued their slide down the table on Saturday when they were hammered by leaders Winchmore Hill.
Winchmore put a 289 score on the board and Stanmore failed to cope with the pressure as they were dismissed 188 runs short of the sizeable target.
The hosts won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked like a decent wicket that should have played into Stanmore’s hands.
However, Winchmore started well and the first wicket did not fall until the 20th over, by which time the visitors had already racked up 120 runs.
Mark Ramprakash entered the fray and bowled the free-scoring David Allyene (84) with his first ball to give Stanmore hope.
But this proved to be nothing more than a temporary respite as the Winchmore batsmen were in rampant form, Scott Newman striking a magnificent 77 as they reached 289-4 before declaring.
Even the most optimistic Stanmore supporter could only hope for an honourable draw at this stage.
The dismissal of opening pair Navin Samarakoon (3) and Steve Mehra (2) suggested that a rescue act was not on the cards as the hosts looked for inspiration.
Ramprakash stepped up to try and provide the spark, however he too failed to fire and was bowled out having added just seven to the Stanmore cause.
The writing was on the wall as Stanmore stood at 16-4, but a brave knock of 47 from Tom Cullen and defiance from Chanmeet Kohli (14) kept the game alive.
However, Winchmore upped their game once more to sweep up the tail as Stanmore were dismissed nine overs short of a great escape.
Elsewhere, Stanmore’s second string showed the way with a two-wicket victory over Shepherd’s Bush and the thirds lost by three wickets to Hampstead.
