Bessborough’s first eleven picked up their first league points of the season on Saturday in a nervy Middlesex County Cricket League Division Three two-wicket victory at North London.

Batting first, North London were ticking along comfortably on 46 without loss after 15 overs before a run out (Ishan Shah) claimed opener-keeper Ralph Pedersen for 13 and soon after Jack Godfrey-Wood and Tom Wakeford were both sent back to the clubhouse without troubling the scorers.

A fourth-wicket partnership of 65 between opener Hussain Shabbir (86) and Alan O’Shea (14) got the score up to 123 before another flurry of wickets ended the innings on 168 before the allocated 45 overs were up. Number eight Jordan Gregory with 24 added most of the late-order runs for the home side.

Pick of the bowlers for Bessborough were spinners Sherrick Chavda (four for 38) and skipper Rohan Karkhanis (two for 12).

Bessborough’s response was anything but plain sailing as few of the top order could stick with opener Ishan Shah (34) for long.

Nonetheless at 150 for four the away side were looking comfortable with the always dangerous Ian Barrie cruising on 64.

However, his wicket sparked a collapse as a further three wickets fell in quick succession leaving the team needing three more runs with only two wickets remaining. Fortunately, tail-enders Karkhanis (one not out) and Chamath Thuduwewatta (four not out) saw the side home without any more scares.

The game was held up for a time during the batting innings when umpire Tim Langer was struck on the forehead and had to be taken to hospital.

The victory for the team was as good as it got for the rest of weekend as all three other Saturday sides suffered heavy defeats.

The defeat for the third eleven at home to North London ended their superb 13-game unbeaten streak although the last-wicket pair of Stephen Kimsey and birthday-boy Peter Doole nearly pulled off a salvage operation as they bravely blocked out for 22 overs before succumbing ten balls from securing a losing draw when Kimsey was bowled.

On Sunday, the side exited the Middlesex County Knockout Cup at the second round stage with a 67-run defeat away to Acton CC.