Bessborough came back down to earth with a bump on Saturday and were beaten by 125 runs by Barnes a week after recording their first Middlesex League Division Three win in eight attempts.

Visitors Barnes were put into bat and had been making hay until spinner Sherrick Chavda (four for 109) came to the crease and picked up two wickets in the 20th overs.

Wobbling on 64 for two, Barnes were dealt a blow when Kibreeth Rameez (one for 64) removed another wicket soon after. But the away side recovered and post 258 for five in 50 overs.

Bessborough’s top order was again off the pace and lost three wickets in the first nine overs. Batting at five, Ian Barrie (67) did his best but could not single-handedly drag the hosts into contention.

All out for 133, this was the seventh occasion in 13 Middlesex League matches Bessborough have been dismissed for less than 150 runs. And with just five fixtures to save their Division Three skin, improvement will be needed and soon.

In the Middlesex League Second XI Division Three, Bessborough’s Seconds were also beaten, going down by 40 runs at Southgate.

Bessborough Thirds picked up a winning draw against Ealing Fifths in the Middlesex 1987 League Division Two, whilst in Division Five, the Fourths were seven-wicket winners at West Harrow Thirds.