Belmont & Edgware went down by 66 runs in a friendly against Southgate.

BECC were made to field first on a very hot day, but they made a flying start as Adam Jacobs continued with his rich vein of form by taking a wicket in his second over - clean bowling the Southgate opener.

With Noam Attar performing well bat the other end, runs were kept to a minimum. But Southgate soon accelerated, and by drinks they pushed up the run rate by smashing the ball to all parts.

Tilley came on and made the breakthrough, and together with David Kaplan, kept the run rate down. With some clever bowling changes, Southgate who was looking for a score well over 200plus, they were restricted to 178.

The response BECC did not start too well as Elliot Mayer fell early, as well did Jacobs. Steven Altman-Richer scored 24 but fell trying to push the run rate up. He shared a partnership of 35 with Phil Mayer before both fell in quick succession.

Ellis Turhim and Tilley added a good stand of 34, but they lacked the power needed to get up to the target as a lot of shots got stuck in the long grass in the outfield.

Tilley fell in the last over and Ryan Monk came into bat and showed what can be done in the two balls, with the fist being dispatched to the boundary with ease followed by an all-run four.

In the end BECC was left well adrift of the target. Captain Monk said: "I wanted to give the guys who didn't bowl or need time in the middle up the order. In the end I should have been more selfish and went in myself earlier to chase the runs down.

"But all in all the game was played in a very good spirit, and the rivalry we have with Southgate is a pleasant one and can't wait to play them again next season."