Middlesex County League Premier Division: Nick Brown confident Hampstead will handle pressure at Finchley
Players move a sightscreen (pic Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo) - Credit: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo
The Lymington Road club proved too strong for local rivals Highgate last weekend and want another win on Saturday
Hampstead are preparing for a tough fixture in the Middlesex County League Premier Division away to Finchley on Saturday, but chairman Nick Brown is backing the team to excel again.
Liam Hughes’ side are top of the table after four matches following a 59-run success at home to local rivals Highgate last weekend.
It was another strong showing from Hampstead, but no one at the Lymington Road club will get carried away ahead of visiting fourth in the table Finchley.
Brown said: “We face a tough challenge this weekend and I anticipate Finchley will have all of their MCC pro’s in the team, so that will make a big difference.
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“Having said that, we’re playing attractive, happy cricket and will go there with a positive attitude and we’ll see how we go.”
Only two teams are still to taste defeat in the Premier Division in 2018 and it is no surprise they are the two joint-leaders – Hampstead and Richmond.
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While the Lymington Road side have won three of their opening four fixtures, chairman Brown labelled last weekend’s success over Highgate as their best of the new campaign to date.
The hosts managed to post 263-8 from their 50 overs with Matthew Watson produced a controlled 79 off 90 balls at number five while there were notable contributions from Mubasher Hassan (34) and Chris Beaumont-Dark (40).
It helped set a “good score” of 263 and it was too much for new boys Highgate to chase as they were eventually dismissed for 204 in the 47th over.
Shane McNamara top scored with 52 after opening the batting, but Will Roberts saw the back of him on his way to recording figures of 3-18 off 6.4 overs.
Hampstead captain Hughes also led from the front and finished with 3-35 as the Lymington Road club secured back-to-back wins.
Brown added: “This was the best victory of the season thus far and there were a number of important passages of play in the game where Highgate could have taken the initiative.
“Fortunately we didn’t let that happen and whilst a 59-run win looks comfortable, it wasn’t and Highgate should be pleased with the way they played.”
After seeing off their local foes, Hampstead will look to produce the good again on Saturday away to Finchley.
