Nick Brown praised the performance of Hampstead after they just came up short last weekend

Nick Brown was proud of his Hampstead team despite their two-wicket loss away to Richmond in the Middlesex County League Premier Division on Saturday.

The two teams produced a thriller at Old Deer Park with 18 wickets falling and 668 runs being scored.

Hampstead scored 332 before they were dismissed and despite pushing Richmond close, the hosts got home with two wickets in hand in the 60th over of their innings.

Although it was not the final outcome the Lymington Road club wanted, Brown paid tribute to the contest produced by both sides.

“Regardless of the result, it was another fantastic game of cricket,” said Hampstead’s chairman.

“Sadly for the second week in a row, we came away with nothing, but we’re playing really well and in spite the result our confidence is high.”

Hampstead produced an excellent showing with the bat and looked on course for a big score from the off.

Opener Jack Biddulph smashed a 13-ball 24 and once he was bowled, Mubasher Hassan and Steve Clark picked up the baton.

The duo put on 105 for the second wicket and when Hassan was out for 73, Clark stood firm and reached three figures.

He eventually went for 109, but captain Liam Hughes (52) and Rahoul Pankhania (32) kept up the run rate to help set Richmond 333 for the win.

Although Hampstead enjoyed plenty of success in the field, they couldn’t find a way to get rid of home opener William Phillips.

Phillips scored an unbeaten 153 to get his team across the line despite Will Roberts taking 3-77 and Chris Beaumont-Dark claiming 2-91 from 17 overs.

It wasn’t the result Hampstead wanted, but their chairman was proud of the display his side produced.

Brown added: “Richmond are a talented team and I think William Phillips was their third different player to get a score of around 150 in a league game this season, but we showed on Saturday that we have plenty of ability too.

“Perhaps had Mubasher not got injured and been able to bowl more than one over, the result would have been different.”