ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Belmont and Edgware started their Middlesex Sunday League season with a five-wicket defeat against West Middlesex.
Stand-in captain Warren Averbuch won the toss and elected to bat.
Early conditions were tricky as the Belmont openers battled through on a sticky wicket. With wickets starting to fall at regular intervals, Stuart Davis steadied himself and played some exquisite shots to reach his half century.
Davis eventually fell, but his determined batting display was continued through Nick McLeod and Jonny Reid who played some superb strokes under pressure taking the score to 158-9 after the allotted 40 overs.
West Middlesex started their run chase in spectacular fashion. Their openers put on 72 runs for the opening partnership before Davis dismissed their opening batsmen for an impressive 65.
Jonny Evans, Gideon Restan and Richie Wienburg bowled claimed a wicket apiece.
However West Middlesex was able to reach the set target with five wickets remaining and 10 overs to spare.
Belmont 2nds were left to rue a series of dropped catches as they lost a friendly against Southgate Adelaide.
SA set a very good score of 232-6 off 35 overs. Matlin bowled with plenty of heart and picked up one wicket for his efforts, but Oskar Hollinsworth was the pick of the bowlers, picking up two wickets. His father Heath also pick up two including a stumping for keeper and skipper Ryan Monk.
BECC's reply was hampered by the loss of early wickets and they were soon in defensive mode. Only Simon Taylor got to grips and made a fine knock of 48. He was supported well by Oskar Hollinsworth and Paul Levy.
Some late hitting from Monk and Hollinsworth pushed the score to some respectability.