IT was always going to prove a tough challenge for North Middlesex to replicate last season’s fairytale.

The club produced perfect timing when they marked their 150th anniversary year by being crowned Premier Division champions in the Middlesex County Cricket League.

Six games into the new campaign, and Jacob Miltz’s side is going to need to call upon the same fortitude: but this time it’s to drag themselves off the bottom of the table.

On Saturday, North Midd once again struggled for runs when they travelled to a Teddington side looking to satisfy their own title aspirations.

Opener Edward Pollock put in a dogged display for the hosts, carefully calculating his shots to maximum effect as he hit 67 off just 51 balls in a knock that included 13 fours.

In testing batting conditions it was always clear that every run was going to prove valuable. Marcus O’Riordan worked hard for his score of 37, while Max Glen and Sam Davis chipped in with 18 and 25 runs respectively.

North Midd did their best to smother the Teddington attack with Ben Lockrose and Mohammed Rizvi both picking up wickets at regular intervals. Lockrose ended the afternoon boasting figures of 3-54, while Rizvi was even more ruthless as he took 5-60.

But Teddington still managed to post a challenging target of 205 before surrendering their final wicket.

North Midd’s reply got off to a disastrous start with openers Ross Forrester and Rizvi managing just three runs between them before being picked off by Jack Grundy (2-12). Miltz arrived at the crease to offer a little respite before departing for 16. David Winn, who hit a patient 38 off 91 deliveries, and Lockrose, who supported well with 17 runs, gave the visitors hope. But Niel Botha soon extinguished North Midd’s optimism as he dismantled their batting order, taking five wickets at the expense of just 24 runs.

In the end, North Midd fell 92 runs short of their target as they were dismissed in the 42nd over for 113.

It’s imperative that North Midd bounce back this weekend when they host a Stanmore side sitting just one point above them in the table.

Meanwhile, in Division One, Hampstead were held to a draw at home to Eastcote. The away side arrived in a batting mood, with Ronald Ettienne scoring 77, while Krish Patel and Daniel Travers both hit 59 as Eastcote recorded 283-6.

Mubasher Hassan did his best to drive Hampstead back into the game with his 74 not out, while Vedant Thakur also batting well for 51.

But after 50 overs Hampstead had managed just 167-7, earning them a point for their efforts, while Eastcote returned home with five points courtesy of their faster run-rate.