NORTH London (84-7) secured their safety with two games to spare with a win over Indian Gymkhana (83), Byron Hackshall starring with both bat and ball. Hackshall took six wickets for 43, while James Baker recorded figures of 3-12 as visiting Indian Gymkha

NORTH London (84-7) secured their safety with two games to spare with a win over Indian Gymkhana (83), Byron Hackshall starring with both bat and ball.

Hackshall took six wickets for 43, while James Baker recorded figures of 3-12 as visiting Indian Gymkhana were dismissed for 83 at Montenotte Road.

And Hackshall then top scored with the bat after tea, defying a collapse to post 39 and take the hosts from a worrying 22-4 to a victorious 84-7.

With basement boys Barnet Bs losing at Barnes, North London are safe from relegation - and they currently sit just five points off sixth place.

NL skipper Mark Askew won the toss and asked Gymkhana to bat, and Hackshall was quickly into his rhythm with three early wickets. Jonathan Scantlebury (1-19) accounted for Subhash Chaudhary (2), leaving the visitors 42-4, and Gymkhana promptly collapsed, with Hackshall and Baker despatching the last six.

NL's chase started badly as openers Jack Atchinson (4) and Jack Godfrey-Wood (6) departed cheaply, and when James Kee and Jeff Hurrell were both caught without scoring the home side were suddenly in trouble at 22-4.

But Hackshall and Askew carefully consolidated the innings and added 30 for the fifth wicket, before Askew was trapped lbw.

Ben Wakeford (13) continued the good work and helped NL up to 82-5, two short of victory, but was then caught while trying to win the match with a boundary.

Moments later Hackshall (39) suffered exactly the same fate, holing out off the bowling of Chaudhray (5-22), who took a five-for.

The nerves intensified in the pavilion as young Ted Greally joined Baker in the middle but, having changed ends, Baker neatly turned the ball round the corner to pick up the two winning runs.

North London can now focus on a push for a mid-table finish, and they visit relegated Barnet Bs this Saturday before hosting Barnes in their final fixture.