Bessborough wrapped up the Middlesex Championship title with one week to spare on Saturday after a comfortable six-wicket win over Perivale Phoenicians at Headstone Manor.

Bowling first, Bessborough made early inroads into the Perivale line-up and never let them off the hook, dismissing the visitors for 117 inside 38 overs.

Summing up the collective effort of the season every bowler claimed at least one wicket, with three for Menesh Gunalan (three for 34), two each for spinners Rohan Karkhanis (two for 18) and Mitesh Vyas (two for 32) and one apiece for Vivek Patel, Rishi Patel and Ramesh Gunalan.

In reply, Bessborough made an uncharacteristically nervous start to stand at 49 for three at tea, but a calm 60-run partnership between Rishi Patel (42 not out) and Sherrick Chavda (35) erased any fears to help complete the job in 25 overs.

News of defeats for nearest rivals Wycombe House and Old Actonians confirmed Bessborough’s return to the Middlesex County Cricket League after a three-year absence and sparked raucous celebrations in the clubhouse.

It was a fitting send-off for departing overseas player Jigar Shah who has cemented his legendary status at the club with outstanding contributions with both the bat and gloves. Jigs scored 553 league runs this season at an average of 46 and claimed 17 dismissals, including one stumping. 

Bessborough Seconds rekindled their hopes of promotion from Division Three after an 18-run win over South Hampstead Seconds.

Adil Parker smashed 62 in an opening stand of 75 with Urooj Ahmed (13). Useful contributions from Sanil Shah (23), skipper Phil Bush (22) and Rohan Desai (29) enabled Bessborough to set a reasonable target of 187.

But spinner Ahmed was in superb form as he returned figures of five for 39 to help dismiss the opposition for 168.

To go up Bessborough will have to beat Wembley at Headstone Manor in the final game of the season and hope Enfield can only manage a winning draw away to relegation-threatened Brentham.

Bessborough Thirds lost to Southgate by five wickets in Middlesex 1987 Division One as their relegation was confirmed.

The Fourths still have hopes of promotion after 144-run win over Old Actonians in Division Five. 

The bedrock of Bessborough’s innings was a fine debut century for Adil Patel (100) who shared stands of 63 with skipper Sahil Hathi (31), 77 with William Gill (39) and 91 with Wasi Ali (54) on the way to a commanding total of 265 for four declared.

Akash Patel finished with four for 26 and Ravi Vyas claimed two for 21 as Old Actonians were all out for 121.

Bessborough need to beat league leaders S.K.L.P. away and hope that Stanmore lose to Turnham Green & Polytechnic to clinch promotion. 

Bessborough lost by 110 runs to Ruislip in Chess Valley Division Three on Sunday.