Peploe hoists Ealing clear at top

Ealing, chasing a fifth successive Shepherd Neame Middlesex Premier League title, are six points clear at the top after celebrating a second consecutive win, a 48-run victory over Shepherd's Bush.

Middlesex left-arm spinner Chris Peploe played a lead role making 41 and sharing a key stand with Ned Eckersley (30) after Ealing had dropped to 27 for four with Mehul Ashara (4-28) doing the damage.

But the Bush folded to 113 all out, Hassan Khan taking 5-27 and Peploe completing a fine day at the office with a 3-23 return.

Former Oxford UCCE opener Omar Anwar thumped 133, including three sixes and 17 fours, as Stanmore overhauled Winchmore Hill's 223 for nine (David Burton 71).

Paul Weekes, who made almost 600 first team appearances in a 16-year career with Middlesex, was the star turn in Hampstead's 36-run win over Finchley, hitting 67 before taking 6-49.

Mohammed Akhtar hit 62 in Hampstead's 224 for eight with Dorset's Richard Banham taking 5-69 - before Finchley were dismissed for 188.

Teddington recovered from 118 for six (Ravi Patel 4-48) to pass Eastcote's 198 (David Goodchild 82), Michael King celebrating a five-wicket haul in the first session.

The Brondesbury-Richmond duel ended in statemate, with the visitors closing at 162 for seven (Ami Banerjee 66) after John Simpson (96) had narrowly missed a century as Brondesbury posted 196