Newlands & Northwood accumulated 194 from their 35 overs against Chigwell, including a fine 43 from Ben Wolpe.

They seemed set for a comprehensive victory as Chigwell slumped to 11-7, but were given a scare as Mike Myers and Kevin Sinclair put on a century partnership. However, Chigwell ended up 61 runs short.

Among other friendlies on Sunday, Belmont & Edgware 1sts (135-8) went down by three wickets to Olympians.

Belmont owed their score to a last-wicket stand of 60 between senior players Neil Myeroff and Nick McLeod. Myeroff pulled a calf muscle during his innings and had to call on Warren Averbuch as a runner.

Opening the bowling, Davis was miserly, conceding just six runs in five overs.

He and Averbuch made early inroads into the Olympians batting.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, with Ami Wynbourne picking up two and Ashley Connick three.

But with injuries reducing Belmont to seven fit fielders, Olympians were always favourites to prevail.

Belmont were left to rue some missed run out opportunities as the Olympians captain steered his team home with an unbeaten 49.

Belmont & Edgware 2nds also lost in a high-scoring contest with ELC.

Although the BECC bowlers caused problems for the batsmen, they also offered opportunities for ELC players to pepper the short boundary as they reached 210.

Almost all the Belmont bowlers picked up wickets. David Kaplan performed with his customary parsimony, conceding just 13 from his six overs.

The Belmont & Edgware reply was led by Horowitz and Elliot Mayer, who both punished some lose deliveries with ease.

Mayer, in particular, drove majestically through the covers, but was dismissed for 20.

BECC were further weakend when Steven Altmann-Richer followed him for just six.

Horowitz was then joined by his captain, Michael Blasebalk, and the pair ran sensibly and picked off the bad balls.

A tiring Horowitz passed 50, before a mix-up led to Blasebalk being run out for 29.

Potentially destructive hitter Phil Mayer continued his poor run off form, departing for a single, and the game looked to be up when Lewis Turek went for four.

Paul Levy smashed eight from the final two balls, but it was all for nothing as Belmont finished 20 runs short.