Jake Sharland scored a half-century and Syed Karrar took six wickets as Highgate beat Hornsey and climbed to third place in the Middlesex County League division three at Tivoli Road on Saturday. We were patient

By Jonny Weeks

Hornsey 159 Highgate 160-5

Jake Sharland scored a half-century and Syed Karrar took six wickets as Highgate beat Hornsey and climbed to third place in the Middlesex County League division three at Tivoli Road on Saturday.

"We were patient with the bat and the guys took responsibility in the middle order, which was what we needed," said Highgate skipper Dave Benton.

The visitors lost the toss and Hornsey batted first but the Highgate attack of Karrar and Tony Duckett hit the right line and length straight away.

After Duckett hit the stumps but failed to remove the bails, it was Karrar who made the initial breakthrough, extracting turn from the pitch to have both openers caught in the covers.

When Duckett picked up Highgate's third wicket, Hornsey were struggling with the score at just 50 from 20 overs.

Benton struck with his second ball, removing Struthers lbw, then hit the stumps of Patel who swiped wildly but missed.

A few well-struck blows from Joss Lower took the home total towards 150, but he lacked support, with Karrar picking up two more lbws.

Benton (3-37) finally removed Lower for 36 before Karrar (6-67) wrapped things up with the last two wickets. Hornsey were all out for 159 in the 47th over.

In reply, Sharland and Chris Wilson accumulated steadily, content to pick off the bad balls.

Having taken the score past 50 for the second successive week, it was Wilson who fell when he was bowled around his legs for 41. But with the score at 89, Highgate had an excellent platform from which to build.

Sharland brought up his second 50 against Hornsey this season, taking the score past 100 before he fell lbw for 54. But when Justin Lampard was undone by a straight one shortly afterwards, Highgate still had work to do at 101-3.

Jim Denning and Will Clarke then dug in to take Highgate closer to their target as the hosts fielding began to suffer, and it was a great catch that eventually removed Denning for 16.

Clarke continued with discipline and despite Alan Crawford falling to another straight one from Ian Gregory, Freddie Barrass came in to hit the winning runs and take Highgate home by five wickets in the 38th over. Clarke finished with an important 32 not out.

Tomorrow, Highgate entertain high-flying North Middlesex.

jonny.weeks@hamhigh.co.uk