Stanmore meet holders Brondesbury in the last eight of the Evening Standard Trophy at The Common on Sunday (1pm) and skipper Alastair Fraser feels that Stanmore have a good chance of avenging their six-wicket defeat in last season's final at the The Oval.
'Last year we played well to reach the final, but weren't able to repeat the form at The Oval and were beaten by a good side,' said Fraser.
'Brondesbury aren't as consistent as they were when winning the league title and completing the double last summer. They've suffered a few surprise defeats recently, and that will have given our boys plenty of encouragement.'
Richard Brooker was outstanding for Stanmore at the weekend, when he followed his 56 in the drawn league match against Hornsey with a superb 142 not out in the 106-run win over Acton that earned his side the cup clash with Brondesbury. Fraser (89) shared a 190 third-wicket stand with Brooker.
Stanmore 246-5 dec. (Rob Hesketh 92), Hornsey 197-8 (Nick Gho 4-58, Mukesh Bhatt 3-64). Stanmore 279-4 (50 overs), Acton 173-7.
Eastcote 223-9 dec.
Brondesbury 109
Grolsch Middlesex County League Division One
Brondesbury's defence of their league title suffered a set back on Saturday with a 114-run defeat by Eastcote.
They have lost their three best players from last season, Richard Sherman, James Murch and Richard Kettleborough, and on this performance more shocks may be on the way.
It was a feeble batting display by Brondesbury in the face of some excellent bowling from Middlesex pros David Goodchild (6-41) and Keith Dutch (3-30).
Brondesbury got off to the best possible start, dismissing Goodchild and Dutch, 17-2. However, Eastcote recovered to reach 223-9 (Broom 67, Jeffery 54, Fay 3-44, Sutherland 2-23, Nelson 2-63), off 71 overs.
Brondesbury began badly, losing both openers Ian Osborne and Mike Hood, 5-2.
Ian Kidd (30) and Tommy Simpson (15) fought back, Then Simpson's dismissal swung the game Eastcote's way, and, with Brondesbury, 75-3, the last seven wickets crashed for 34.
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