Shepherds Bush 172 Stanmore 171-9 In a tense climax, Middlesex County League leaders Stanmore, needing two runs off the last ball, missed out on a victory over Shepherds Bush that would have stretched their advantage over nearest challengers Richmond to 11 points. They had to settle for a single point that left them two ahead over Richmond, who entertain the leaders on Saturday.

Bush, put in by skipper Alastair Fraser, were soon struggling at 14-2. Though Terry Howard (30) and Munroe put on 31, fine bowling by Julian Makin (3-39), Luke O'Reilly (2-59) and David Dunn (3-25) caused the visit ors to crash to 98-8.

But former Middlesex player Kevin Marc (46) and ex-Hampshire and Derbyshire bowler Martin Jean--Jaques fought back in a fine ninth-wicket stand of 62, before Mark Stear (2-14) bowled Jean-Jaques, and Bush were all out for 172.

After Peter Edwards (4) soon departed, a fascinating duel developed between Stanmore's batsmen and the Bush's lively seamers Marc (4-40) and Jean-Jacques (3-31).

Umesh Valjee (42), Mark Dyson (25) and Chris Sayers (20) kept Stanmore in with a chance, before all three fell to Marc, with skipper Alastair Fraser unhappy about the decisions that saw the departure of Dyson, lbw,and Sayers, caught.

Stear needed two off the last ball, but Jean-Jaques kept his cool with a yorker that landed in the hands of wicketkeeper Hockley.

Good news for Fraser is that he won't need a further operation on his shoulder, which was badly bruised, and should be able to bowl again soon.

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