NORTH Middlesex boosted their chances of promotion from Division Two this season when they forced a four-point draw in their rain-affected match against Enfield on Saturday. Alex Hill s outfit, seeking to build on last week s shock win against league lead

NORTH Middlesex boosted their chances of promotion from Division Two this season when they forced a four-point draw in their rain-affected match against Enfield on Saturday.

Alex Hill's outfit, seeking to build on last week's shock win against league leaders Southgate, won the toss, put Enfield in to bat and restricted them to a modest total of 145 all out.

But rain interrupted play soon after the chase began and for a moment it seemed unlikely Hill's men would have the chance to bat out the required 20 overs. However the rain abated long enough for Mid to return and they kept up the tempo to pass the required run rate and secure four points.

"Saturday's match was very frustrating for all involved due to the constant drizzle," said Hill. "This affected both the playing conditions and the achievable overs. I think that we were good value for the four points and, had the weather been dry throughout the second innings, I am confident that we would have been pushing for the win.

"We were excellent in the field. Our bowling was very solid and Nick Packard bowled superbly on his return to the side. It was also pleasing to be taking the field with two of our most promising Colts, Connor Nurse and Zulfi Bipul, in the side. It is potentially very good for the future of the club."

Evan Flowers (2-29) got North Mid off to a good start in the difficult conditions when he took the first two wickets but Jack Plumb (76) soon settled and Enfield reached 70-4 at drinks.

Plumb was joined by Mansoor Baig (18) who pushed the tally along until he was caught with a sharp catch at short mid-wicket by Sanjay Dindyal.

Jaron Semper then got the crucial wicket of Plumb as Nick Packard (4-11), on his return to the first team, kept up the pressure to restrict Enfield to 145 all out in 54.3 overs.

The drizzle had turned to light rain when the chase began and Mid looked to have it all to do when Nurse edged Stephen Richards (7) with the score on 20.

Flowers and Semper (23) pushed the score on before the latter was dismissed and at 60-2, all eyes were on the number of overs played with the home side hoping that they could get to the 20 overs required for a result. Then Scott Richardson went for a duck and Flowers was caught for 35.

After a short rain delay, Maxwell Creese (5) and Hill (18) departed to leave Mid 86-6, but Nick Brand (10 not out) and Sanjay Dindyal (13no) kept their nerve for the next seven overs to get past the four point total.