Bessborough slumped to the bottom of Middlesex County Cricket League Division Three on Saturday after their batting collapse at South Hampstead resulted in a five-wicket defeat.

Stand-in wicket-keeper Adil Parker, stepping up from the second team to cover the absence of Will Grogan, acquitted himself well at the top of the order with 32, but precious few of the other batsmen got to grips with the sticky wicket.

From a relatively good position of 63-3 Bessborough somehow contrived to lose the remaining seven wickets for just 36 runs to be dismissed for 99 in 39 overs.

To their credit Bessborough’s bowlers managed to claim five South Hampstead wickets – three more for the player of the season so far Kibreeth Rameez – but there was never a suggestion that a victory was a possibility.

The Seconds’ game at home against MTSSC was a victim of the weather with the main pitch at Headstone Manor waterlogged.

The Thirds’ claimed a winning draw against Old Actonians in Middlesex 1987 Division One.

Home skipper Ian Ridley’s side were in a spot of bother at 60-5. However, a superb 81-run partnership between colt Beavan Fernando (53) and Sahil Hathi (34), followed by a stand of 38 between the young keeper and Nandesh Patel (20) helped the side to a relatively strong position of 194-8 declared.

Unfortunately, Bessborough’s attack was blunted by a defensive-minded opposition line-up as the game petered out with Old Actonians on 124-5 from the 46 overs on offer, giving Bessborough the lion’s share of the points.

The Fourths suffered a six-wicket defeat to Alexandra Park in Division Five.

Bessborough’s batsmen had built a few solid partnerships without anyone getting a really big score, colt Jamie Young being their top scorer with 31.

Alexandra Park comfortably chased down their 150-run target for the loss of only four wickets.

The defeat leaves Bessborough bottom of the league with runaway league leaders Hampstead next up.