League leaders Richmond inflicted a third successive defeat on Finchley with a crushing 178-run victory on Saturday to leave the latter stranded in mid-table of the Middlesex League Premier Division.

Hosts Finchley won the toss and inserted Richmond into bat first, a decision that looked to be vindicated when captain Hassan Khan removed William Phillips for just three to leave them 9-1.

That brought Ben Compton (104) to the crease and he produced a fine unbeaten century to anchor the Richmond innings.

He was well supported thanks to 57 from Robert Gibson in an excellent stand of 128, alongside 44 from Daniel Stanley, which helped the table toppers to 292-7.

Finchley’s reply got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets for just nine runs as openers Majed Ali (2) and Stewart Davidson (1) fell cheaply – both victims of David Burton.

Thomas Powe and Brad Chemaly, who each made 34 respectively, gave the Arden Field club hope of launching a credible reply, but there was precious little support from elsewhere.

Abdullah Nazir (4-17) did the damage to dismiss Finchley for just 114 and ensure that Richmond tighten their grip at the summit.

Stanmore eased to a 183-run thrashing of Wycombe House to keep pace with first-placed Enfield in Division Two.

Stanmore made full use of home advantage to reach a competitive tally of 251-6 from 48 overs at The Common.

That innings was constructed around the exploits of Kush Patel, who crashed 13 fours en route to an impressive 102 off just 74 balls.

Earlier Stanmore opener Steven Reingold (64) had passed his half-century in a 50 partnership with Patel.

Wycombe had no answers in reply, crumbling to just 68 all out with over half their runs accumulated by opener Mehfooz Khan, who carried his bat with an unbeaten 37.

It was Marc Reingold who obliterated the Wycombe batting card, posting figures of 6-13 from 7.5 overs to lead Stanmore to a stunning victory.