Barnet 136 Staines and Laleham 138-3

Grolsch Middlesex County League Division Three

Leaders Barnet suffered their second defeat in three weeks, going down to Staines and Laleham by seven wickets on Saturday.

Barnet were put in on a wicket that was not difficult, but never looked comfortable against a formidable opening attack that included Middlesex player Tim Bloomfield. Though he took only one wicket, Bloomfield bowled aggressively and with real pace, conceding a meagre 17 runs from his nine overs. All the damage was done at the other end by D Brown (6-37 in 13 overs).

A final total of 136 seemed insufficient, and so it proved. Barnet's hopes rose briefly as they took two wickets before the the score had reached 40, but Staines' skipper W Douglass rode his luck with an unbeaten 70, as his side cruised to victory.

Barnet's close rivals Hayes won again on Sunday, and are only 13 points behind. The leaders need to recapture their early season form if they are to gain promotion, starting with Saturday's home match against Wycombe House.