Finchley suffered a blow in their battle to avoid relegation from the Middlesex County League Division One, losing by four wickets at North Middlesex on Saturday.

Bottom-of-the-league Finchley were put into bat first and overcame a slow start before declaring on 217 for six.

Francois Haasbroek provided the mainstay of the innings, falling five short of his century, whilst Jake Milton hit 50 at number three.

Joel Hughes enjoyed the most success with the ball for North Middlesex, taking three for 31.

In reply, big knocks from Tom Nicoll (63) and Michael Clements (61) laid the platform for North Middlesex to reach 218 with four wickets in hand.

Frahan Butt took three for 57 for the visitors.

Defeat leaves Finchley bottom of the league, with second-bottom North Middlesex 12 points ahead.

Big knocks from Steve Mehra and Stevie Eskinazi helped Stanmore to an eight-wicket win at home to Hornsey.

Inserted into bat, Hornsey were grateful to Jack Goldberg (44) and Basil Akram (39) as they struggled with the bat.

At 80 for five, it took Goldberg’s defiant innings to help Hornsey to 167 all out.

Mukesh Butt (three for 37) and Marc Reingold (three for 38) proved effective with the ball.

Stanmore made minimal fuss of chasing down the target, with Eskinazi (79) and Mehra (75) providing the runs.

Ed Wharton was the only wicket taker for the visitors, finishing with two for 50.

Thilan Walallawita took seven wickets to help Potters Bar to a seven-wicket win at bottom-of-the-league Sawbridgeworth.

The hosts opened the batting and Charlie Rudkin (32) and Roe Rudkin (35) made a positive start before a middle-order collapse.

Late knocks from Andrew McGarry (25) and Ryan Cunningham (26) eased the host to 160 all out, having at one stage been 98 for seven.

Walallawita took seven for 62, with Rahul Panta claiming three for 40.

Liam Gough (58) got the Potters Bar reply off on a good footing before George Scott (34) and Marc Milligan (34 not out) guided the visitors to 165 for five.

Sagar Trivedi was the pick of the bowlers, taking two for eight in five overs.

A disappointing display with the bat saw Old Elizabethans suffer a 74-run defeat home to Hatfield Hyde in Saracens Herts League Division Three.

Hatfield saw Kevin Gray and Mitchell Futcher both fall one short of half-centuries in an encouraging start.

Andrew Godbold hit 22 late on to help the visitors to a total of 185 for seven, with Charlie Busby taking three for 25.

The Elizabethans reply was disjointed, with James Heavey’s 25 the highlight as the the hosts struggled to find their rhythm.

Same late resistance from Dominic Goring (14) and Busby (13 not out) was not enough as the home side slumped to a total of 111 all out.

Saim Rajput took five for 37 for the visitors.

Mill Hill Village’s winning streak came to an end at eight games after drawing at Northchurch in Division Seven.

Having elected to bat, the Village set about posting a strong total, with Greg Vaughan opening with 91.

Lower-order knocks of 29 and 27 from Ben Dawson and Majid Asif respectively took the visitors to 253 for nine before declaring.

Openers Andy Wright (45) and Jacques Viljoen (38) began brightly before the wickets began to tumble.

Callum Lindsay (33) weighed in at seven as Northchurch preserved their final wicket to secure the draw with 191 for nine.

Steve Pullen took two for two and Dawson claimed three for 30 but it was not enough for the Village, who remain top.

In the Championship, bottom-of-the-league Old Finchleians lost by nine wickets at home to Reed.

Put into bat, Old Finchleians made a pitiful 29 before Reed swatted them aside, reaching 30 for the loss of just one wicket.

Struggling Totteridge Millhillians fared little better in result terms, losing by seven wickets against Hoddesdon.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Totteridge were dismissed for 155; Hoddesdon reaching 159 in 26 overs.