MIDDLESEX PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

Friends United 149 all outYouth Wing 151-5Friends United lost by five wickets

FRIENDS United made a rocky start to the new Middlesex Premier League Division Three season against Youth Wing.

United had been pushing for promotion last term but you would not have known it on this performance as they slumped to a five-wicket defeat.

Skipper Yogesh Nagpal won the toss for the Wembley side and decided to bat on a damp pitch, losing their opening batsmen early on to set the tone for the afternoon.

But Friends new boy Jalpesh Vijay and Nirmal Ramgi steadied the ship from there with a 72-run partnership to give the hosts hope.

Youth Wing slammed the door by taking four wickets in quick succession, United slipping to 110-7 when they had been at 55-1 at one stage.

Some lower order hitting from Nikhil Mulgi, who scored 26 runs from 23 balls, gave them a final boost as they were all out for 149.

Youth started the chase purposely and reached 46-0 in no time at all before Friends brought in some spinners to slow things down.

The rain came down to make fielding difficult for the home side. who dropped seven catches, and Youth Wing got home with five wickets to spare.