Finchley won by six wickets at Stanmore on Saturday to move within six points of safety in Middlesex League Division One.

Electing to bat first, the visitors put on 73 for the opening wicket, with Sayed Bukhari (40) falling after eight fours. George Charlton (30) followed without adding another run to the visitors’ total but the runs continued to flow throughout the order.

Niraj Jadav top-scored with an important knock of 58 and was supported by Jake Milton (31) and Keerthi Ranasinghe (26) en route to a total of 271 for seven before declaring.

Marc Reingold took three wickets for the hosts but they came at a cost of 80 runs.

In reply, Stanmore started well, with good contributions from Stevie Eskinazi (67), Cameron Steel (45) and Steve Mehra (34).

On 145 for five though, the runs began to dry up for the home side, who saw their remaining wickets fall cheaply on their way to being dismissed for 189.

Milton did the bulk of the damage, removing four Stanmore wickets for 46 runs.

In the Saracens Herts Premier League, Potters Bar went down to a three-wicket defeat at Letchworth Garden City, despite a good display with the bat.

Invited to bat first, Potters looked to be going well, with opener Liam Gough (61), Harrison Palmer (44) and Don Manuwelge (44) providing a solid foundation.

By the time Manuwelge was removed, with Potters on 211 for five, the wickets began to tumble and the visitors finished on 262 for nine.

The hosts had struggled to take wickets, with Ben Cottenden (two for 45) returning the best figures.

There were no such problems with the bat though, as Navin Seneviratne opened with a knock of 55, which included 11 fours.

A score of 94 from Tim Graham was the highlight of the innings, helping steer Letchworth to 265 for seven.

Thilan Walallawita finished with figures of four for 77 for Potters Bar.

Totteridge Millhillians won the local derby against Old Finchleians in the Saracens Herts Championship thanks to a blistering knock of 145 by Steve Selwood.

Hosts Old Finchleians batted on winning the toss and a fine 71 by young Ratchit Thakkar helped put on an opening stand of 113 with Chetan Depala Snr (66).

A fluent 43 from Chetan Depala Jnr got the score up to a very healthy 190 for one before wickets began to fall.

Hardik Savani’s (35) cameo helped the home side to a total of 256 for seven.

The visitors made a slow start against tight bowling and fielding and at tea were only 76 for two off 26 overs.

But it was all change at the break and Selwood took over, and a wonderful display of sustained hitting followed.

Aided by a dogged 71 not out from La Forte, the away side got home with a few balls to spare on 257 for three.

Old Elizabethans sit fourth in Division Three after a six-wicket win at Letchworth Garden City Seconds.

The visitors opted to bowl first and the move seemed to pay dividends as Nav Akhtar was soon amongst the wickets.

Alex Herbert starred with the ball, claiming three wickets, which in turn allowed wicket keeper Rob Gibson to complete five dismissals, with four catches and a stumping.

A great effort was made by the whole team and there was real belief in the team in being able to chase the 216 posted by the opposition.

Despite losing a wicket with the first ball of the response, Old Elizabethans took control with some powerful hitting from James Heavey, before Matt Heavey (92 not out) and Gibson (73) eased the visitors to 217 for four.

In Division Seven, table-toppers Mill Hill Village fell to their second defeat of the season at Eversholt Seconds.

The visitors won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Eversholt built a solid innings total, maintaining a steady approach throughout. The run rate was kept in check by the fall of wickets at regular intervals, whenever they looked likely to get on top. A flurry of late runs from the middle order saw Eversholt reach 225 for eight.

In reply the usually dependable Village top order failed to fire and stuttered to 60 for three. But a partnership developed between Greg Vaughan (59) and Phil Smith (40) that put the visitors back into the match.

At 132 for three, the game was in the balance. However the two batsmen fell quickly, triggering a collapse of the middle order.

The lower order were unable to score quickly as the Eversholt attack maintained good tight lines and lengths.

Ever-attacking, the Village kept chasing the total but ended up well short on 172 all out.