Harrow St Mary’s early-season struggles continued on Saturday as they suffered a 23-run defeat at Osterley to leave them at the basement of Division Two of the Middlesex League.

Having been asked to field, St Marys enjoyed regular success at the top of the innings as their opponents were reduced to 78-5. But an unbeaten 60 from middle-order batsman Hameed Ahmedzai proved crucial in helping his side close on 198-9 off their 45 overs.

The wickets were shared around, with Syed Khawar Ali Kazmi the pick of the attack with 2-17 from his nine overs.

Ali Kazmi was also to prove his side’s most effective batsman as he made a half-century. But once he was the fourth wicket to fall for 56 with the score on 113, St Marys’ hopes of victory were to soon disappear and they were to bowled out for 187.

There was also disappointment for Harrow Town in Division Three as they went down to a 14-run defeat against Acton.

Town were up against it after a 93-run fifth-wicket partnership between Yasir Mehmood (60) and Paul Langley (73) helped propel their opponents to a total of 266-7.

Harrow made a good fist of the case though, as three partnerships of more than 50 kept them in the hunt, only to come up 14 runs short.

Tharindu Denipitiyage top-scored for Town with 68 followed by Muhammad Arshad’s 51.