A captain's knock of 81 from Jerome Colmans proved decisive as London Maccabi Vale 1st maintained their Middlesex Sunday League Division One title hopes with a hard fought 16-run victory over Belmont & Edgware.

Lying second in the table, LMV got off to a poor start with their top order dismissed for single figures. On a low and slow wicket, BECC bowler Saul Weitzman and Neil Myeroff put them under pressure with tidy spells supported by Richard Reggel, who also produced an excellent catch to dismiss Adam Brand.

Colmans occupied the crease to great affect, punishing anything loose as his patient innings paid dividends. His 84-ball knock including two sixes.

A fifth-wicket partnership of 111 with Richard Black (44) pushed them towards a total of 180 as BECC were left to rue some dropped catches and overthrows. Colmans and Black were the only LMV batsmen to reach double figures.

The fortuitous run-out of BECC opener Ashley Connick gave LMV the early wicket they were looking for but Stuart Davis (32) and Bronson Ritterman (37) put on valuable runs and with wickets in hand, BECC looked well-placed to push on in the last 20 overs.

Missing regular skipper Jon Galloway, Andrew Daniels and Martin Schultz, fielded well and economic spells from Alex Gold (3-26), Jacob Holden and Adam Brand put in tight spells following on from the excellent Neil Lederman. The dismissal of Ritterman was key as captain Richie Wienburg and David Ritterband were unable to play with their usual fluency.

A tighter performance in the field was arguably the difference as LMV frustrated BECC in the closing stages to restrict them to 164-8 and run out winners by 16 runs.