Stanmore remain unlikely title contenders after a 64-run win over North Middlesex in Division One of the Middlesex Cricket League on Saturday.

Perched in fourth and 29 points off the summit, Stanmore were inserted after losing the toss and made a dismal start.

Openers Steve Mehra (6) and Kunal Mehta (8) were both sent back to the pavilion sharply.

Anshuman Rath made 73 to steady the innings and contributions from Mark Ramprakash (26) and Grant Reingold (33) helped nudge the score up.

Stanmore closed on 229 for nine after 50 overs and set about tearing into the North Middlesex line-up with Abishek Kulkarni (three for 28) snaring the wickets of the first three men in.

Karunaratne (three for 29) aided the removal of the home side for just 165.

Finchley remain in the Division One relegation zone after falling to a 15-run loss at home to Hampstead.

Defeat leaves Finchley 17 points from safety with just four games left.

Having won the toss, visitors Hampstead elected to bat first and despite losing Jonathan Dunne (9) to Hassan Khan (two for 34) early on, they recovered well to post 244 for seven; Liam Hughes (50) top scoring.

Joseph Emanuel (four for 33) returned the best bowling figures for Finchley, leaving the home side with an attainable target.

The early loss of Fred Daehce-Marshall (5) was a blow, but Cameron Steel (49) was impressive despite falling just short of his half-century from 51 deliveries.

Less impressive, though, was the middle order. Hassan Khan (66) and Sumeet Sharma (47) bucked the trend somewhat but could prevent Finchley being removed for 229 after 48 overs.

Potters Bar were four-wicket winners at home to Bishop’s Stortford in the Hertfordshire League Premier Division.

Hosts Bishop’s were inserted after losing the toss and put up 234 for eight. But Potters clinched the win by making 238 for six in reply.

Old Finchleians lost for the eighth game in succession, going down by nine wickets at home to St Margaretsbury. All out for 41, OFs were then sent to defeat as the visitors raced to 45 having lost just one wicket.

Totteridge Millhillians saw their eight-game winning run ended by West Herts in the Championship, falling to a five-wicket loss. All out for 200, Totteridge could not stop West Herts reaching 203 with five wickets in hand.

Old Elizabethans crushed Baldock by 80 runs in Division Three. Having posted 195 for nine, OEs remove their visitors for just 86.

Mill Hill Village took another step towards promotion from Division Six B, clinching a four-wicket win at Boxmoor. The home side put on 191 for nine before the Village eased to 192 with six wickets removed.