MTSSC saw their unbeaten run this season end and their lead at the top of the league cut to 10 points as they lost to Old Actonians.
The Middlesex Championship Division One table toppers won the toss and started brightly at the crease with the early indicators seemed to suggest it would be business as usual.
Batting duo Niro Shritharan and Kishore Sathasivam coasted through the opening stages and put runs on the board to give the hosts real hope of chalking up another win.
However, Actonians bowler James Essex had other ideas as a superb in-swinger rattled the stumps to see off Sathasivam with MTSSC on 36.
That would prove to be the catalyst for the momentum shifting in the visitors' favour. Shritharan quickly became the next batter to depart after being caught by Trent Conwell and the home side never truly recovered from losing their first two wickets.
The problem was finding an effective batting partnership and despite the courageous efforts of Prasanna Rengarajan and David Devadoss, it was not enough to save a dire innings by their own high standards. The impressive Essex struck the final blow by bowling out Abdul Hamza.
But MTSSC's chances of a fight back looked well and truly on when Devadoss, who also caught the eye last week, claimed the first wicket.
This was swiftly followed by a wicket from Kavi Kannathasan, leaving Old Actonians on 25-2.
The attempted comeback continued to gather momentum until Shritaran dropped a simple catch, to the relief of Old Actonians batter Craig Nel, who took full advantage by easing his side near to their target.
Jinesh Patel and the impressive Essex finished the game as Old Actonians were victorious by five wickets.
