The 1st XI continued their winning ways with another outstanding run chase, against local rivals Teddington, to consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier League. Whilst Ealing also won, and gained 2 points back, the 1's have a 20 point advantage with 5 games to play. The 2's and 3's also produced excellent wins to strengthen their positions in the top half of their respective divisions, whilst a youthful 4th XI recorded a fighting losing draw as did the 5th XI, who remain in the promotion places.
Teddington won the toss at ODP and chose to bat. On a decent pitch, they dug in through skipper Nick Pryde and Middlesex youngster Tom Lace. However, Richmond's bowlers maintained great discipline and the visitors never really got away. Therefore at the enforced declaration after 66 overs, they had recorded 263 for 7. There were 3 wickets each for Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Abdullah Nazir who between them bowled 42 of the overs delivered. Richmond lost two wickets for 29 before Ben Compton, first in partnership with Abhishek and then with Adam London, established a wonderful platform for the victory, reducing the rate to 5 an over. However when London was caught on the boundary, shortly followed by Will Phillips and Bhavesh Pankhania, there was work to be done. But Compton stayed calm, bringing up his second League century in a fortnight, and Daniel Stanley finished it off with 6, 4 and 6 off the first three balls of the penultimate over to seal the win.
Steve Stacey was the star of the show with 6 wickets as the 2's bowled Acton out for 77. This modest target was chased down for the loss of just 3 wickets to move the 2's into 3rd place, just 1 point behind Hampstead but 33 behind leaders North Middlesex who we play next Saturday.
The 3's dismissed Highgate for 160 at the Newman. There were 4 wickets for Jack Timmins, returning from injury, and 3 for Ian Ian John Moore. Will Patterson and Ben Rotheram with 41 and 49 respectively saw the 3's home and they are in joint 3rd, 27 points behind North Middlesex at the top.
The 4's only had 2 players over the age of 23 and this young side acquitted itself well against top of the table Shepherds Bush 3's. The Bhasin brothers, Arun and Cameron, came together with their side 8 down and put on more than 100 to set the Bush 232 to win. Our bowlers did well but the Bush settled for the winning draw with their score on 197 for 7.
The 5's faced South Hampstead 4's who set us a target of 288. We didn't get them but held on for the losing draw and remain in the promotion places.