Beesborough will be wise to thank the efforts of opening batsman Ishan Shah, who salvaged a draw in a fraught 50-over encounter against Winchmore Hill at Headstone Manor on Saturday.

The home side were set an ominous total of 292 by the visitors, who had two centurions in their ranks in the form of Morgan Prior (141 not out) and Jim Gatting (102).

Shah (123 not out) led by example, scoring his first ton for the club to guide Borough to a well-earned draw and helping the side to conclude their innings on 216 for four.

Beesborough remain four points ahead of bottom-of-the-table North London, who also remain in trouble after suffering defeat on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Beesborough Seconds will feel hard done by with their winning draw after a commanding performance against Harrow promised so much more than they could ultimately secure.

After declaring on 193 for seven, Borough reduced Harrow to 120 for nine with some excellent bowling displays by Urooj Ahmed (three for 26), Nitin Modha (three for 34) and Rohan Desai (three for 37). But they were still not enough to give Borough victory against their relegation rivals.

Bessborough missed out on maximum points despite a superb performance with bat and ball by Ahmed (82 not out) and a solid 30 from captain Phil Bush.

Failure to take that final wicket proved costly for Beesborough, who would have climbed above Harrow with the win, although a winning draw does at least reduce the deficit to a single point.

Borough have also extended their advantage over bottom of the pile South Hampstead to 12 points.

The Thirds pulled off an impressive victory against second-placed Twickenhamt o close the gap in the race for promotion.

Bessborough looked in trouble after posting a mere 141 all out at Headstone Manor, however, promotion rivals Twickenham were unable to capitalise on that underwhelming performance, chiefly as a result of a superb five-wicket haul for Stephen Kimsey (five for 24).

Twickenham eventually succumbed to a meagre 87 all out, sealing a 54-run victory for Borough and in turn moving them two points behind their promotion rivals and a point behind Osterley in third.

The Fourths' hopes of gaining promotion were dented after they lost by 38 runs to Hornsey, who made 194 for eight (declared).

Borough were bowled out for 156 after just 40.3 overs at the crease.

Bessborough’s limited stay in the middle was in large due to the impressive spin bowling of Tahir (six for 67), with Borough opener Beaven Fernando providing the only genuine resistance before being trapped leg before wicket, a single run away from his half-century.

The Fourths' promotion aspirations have suffered a major setback and seem all but over barring slip ups from Old Actonians and West Harrow.

Elsewhere, the Sunday XI were convincingly beaten at the hands of Harrow Town, losing by 184 runs after Harrow scored an incredible 319 for eight.

Bessborough's response amounted to just 135 all out.