No Shah thing

Aug 7 2008

Moshin Shah's brilliant bowling spell of 5-34 couldn't stop Wycombe House slipping to the bottom of the Middlesex County Cricket League on Saturday.

Shah and James Rodham's tight bowling gave House a great chance as they set Hornsey 203 to win in their Division Three clash, having declared on 202-9.

More wickets fell, but poor fielding meant House couldn't take the final two they needed for 10 vital points, instead taking just one for a losing draw. That, coupled, with a shock win for previously-bottom Bessborough at joint-leaders Harrow Town, sent House rock bottom.

Akshay Desmukh and Ben Taylor had earlier shown some solid batting before 17 overs were lost to the rain.

Meanwhile Teddington, second-placed in the Premier, will be kicking themselves if leaders Ealing finish less than 10 points above them, having just had that amount deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

Robin Jones finished six runs short of a ton as they drew with Brondesbury on Saturday, while Charl Malan, brother of Middlesex star Dawid, bagged 81 runs.

Middlesex reject Nick Compton hit 64 as Richmond closed in on the Division Two promotion places with victory over Shepherd's Bush. Usman Sikander's 4-35 included a hat-trick as Richmond won by eight wickets. Twickenham edged closer to safety with a 106-run win over Harrow, with Alex Storey hitting 51 and E Mendis taking 4-46.