A BLISTERING captain's innings of 120 not out from David Holt at Finchley - 'one of my best for the club' - appears to have left champions Ealing with only Teddington and Hampstead to worry about in the race for an amazing fifth Middlesex County League title in a row.

Holt's heroics saw his side to victory by five wickets after a thrilling run-chase at Finchley's Arden Field ground after the hosts had posted a demanding 246-5 from 60 overs.

Finchley had a century-maker of their own in Josh Knappett, who finished on 100 not out and who must have felt he was going to finish on the winning side.

But Holt had other ideas, guiding his team to an eighth win of the season in the 64th over with just two and a half overs to go.

"At the start of our innings I said it would need one of our top five batsmen to be there at the end, and luckily it was me," said Holt, who went in with Ealing on 30-2.

"But I'd always back us in any run chase, which is why I was happy to put them in to bat first, even on a good wicket.

"I had some pretty good innings for Middlesex seconds earlier in my career but this was one of my best for Ealing, without doubt.

"That is especially true because I rated Finchley as our main threat this season and they have an excel-lent bowling attack, so to have a 33-point lead over them at this stage is very good."

With six rounds of fixtures left, the top of the table now reads: Ealing 96 points, Teddington 75, Hampstead 72, Finchley 63. Ealing

are at home to Eastcote this weekend before travelling to Teddington next Saturday and then returning to Corfton Road on August 15 to face Hampstead - matches which will surely decide their fate.

Before then there is the little matter of Sunday's national knock-out cup quarter-final at home to Bath. That 45-overs match starts at 1pm.