North Middlesex captain Joel Hughes says it’s "all to play for" in the Middlesex County Cricket Premier Division title race.

Hughes’ men currently sit third in the league table, seven points off leaders Crouch End, having played nine games so far this season.

They will welcome Brondesbury to Crouch End Playing Fields on Saturday as they look to put pressure on the front-runners.

“It’s all to play for now, we feel like we’ve got a really good core of players, everyone wants to play first-team and the group is enjoying playing together,” Hughes said.

“We’re stringing some good performances and results together so I think we’re in a good place, so we’re starting the second half of the season in good form and good spirits.

“They’ve (Brondesbury) struggled a bit particularly with the bat, but they’re not to underestimated with the ball, I think they’re a good bowling side.

“We won’t be taking them lightly.”

They sealed a 113 run victory over Ealing last time out as they were bowled out for 177 after losing the toss and being put in to bat first where Fergal Walter (37) and Evan Flowers (52) led the charge.

They then managed to bowl Ealing out for a mere 64 runs thanks to skipper Hughes (8-25) who produced a fine display to guide his team to 12 points.

“I was really happy with how things went against Teddington, the way we went about things was perfect, and I said to the lads we’ve got to keep doing that and we done that brilliantly again.

Ham & High: Joel Hughes of NMCC during North Middlesex CC vs Hampstead CC, Middlesex County League Cricket at Park Road on 25th May 2019Joel Hughes of NMCC during North Middlesex CC vs Hampstead CC, Middlesex County League Cricket at Park Road on 25th May 2019 (Image: ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468)

“We dug in with the bat, we got a score on that wicket, which was always going to be pretty hard to chase down.

“Fergal and Evan laid the platform for that and got us to a good position at lunch where we were 100-2 which was fantastic.

“We lost a few wickets but the platform was there from the batters and those two in particular.”

He added: “It’s a funny game as sometimes you feel like you’ve bowled well and you don’t get the rewards then you have days like that where everything sort of goes your way.

“On a wicket like that you just need to keep putting the ball in good areas and there was plenty of life in the wicket.

“I was obviously delighted to get eight wickets, it’s actually my career best, but mainly delighted to be back out there playing and taking wickets.”