Eastcote were slain by a Middlesex star studded cast when they played host to champions and current league leaders, Ealing at Southill Lane on Saturday. Chris Peploe produced a match winning individual performance of 62 with the bat followed by 7-34 with the ball, and was ably supported by Ned Eckersley’s contribution of 57 not out as Ealing posted an imposing 287-5. In response Eastcote could only muster 162 all out as the middle order succumbed to the Peploe magic.

After winning the toss the home side asked Ealing to bat first and the visitors duly obliged with something of an onslaught as they raced to 64 in 11 overs before debutant Mat Savage took an easy catch to send Patel (42) back to the pavilion. Runs then dried up as Savage bowled an impressive and economical 7 over spell. Goodchild and Lotay perservered and were rewarded and at lunch the score was a respectable 126-3. 

After the interval however the onslaught was always coming, and as the champions accelerated a big total looked likely. The loss of Holt (24) only served to bring out Eckersley (57*) and he and Peploe tore into the Eastcote bowling. Even the loss of Peploe (62) did not staunch the flow as Khan (32*) continued in similar vein.

The declaration after 61 overs and Eastcote may have been relieved not to be chasing 300, but 287 was still a big target. Scollay and Sagoo started brightly as the seamers ran in, the score reached 50 in the 12^th over before Sagoo (14) was dismissed but with the home side on 50-1, the formidable Scollay still at the crease and plenty of batting to come things were far from black.

That was before a cataclysmic collapse occurred as the Eastcote walls came tumbling down around Scollay’s ears. The Australian had to single handedly hold the fort as Chris Peploe wove his spell, James (2) was deceived by the spin, Rossington’s scalp was taken by sharp close field catching and captain Coleman was adjudged leg before – the first of a remarkable 3 decisions that went the Middlesex star’s way. With the score suddenly 71-4 the feeling of the match changed.

Jivan Lotay batted well with Scollay for a while to take the score on to 109 before he fell to Patel at the other end. By now Scollay was cruising and Eastcote’s hopes were not vanquished, but when he holed out on the boundary going for one six too many the game was up and at 146-6 the shutters needed to come down.

Peploe had other ideas though and he simply ran through the Eastcote tail to leave the home side 162 all out and no points for their labours.