Enfield continued their fine start to the Middlesex Cricket League Division Two season, thrashing local rivals Winchmore Hill by nine wickets at the Paulin Ground on Saturday.

After opting to bat first, Hill were reduced to 60-3 as Faisal Mir (3-25) made early inroads.

However, Hill recovered thanks firstly to their Australian overseas player Mitchell Todd (67) and, after Todd was dismissed, captain De La Rey Terblanche anchored the innings, before striking some lusty blows in the closing overs.

Terblanche finished on 96 not out as Hill compiled a respectable 245-5 from their 45 overs.

Enfield’s response had an early scare as the talismanic Jack Plumb pulled a hamstring early on, but opted to remain at the crease using the services of a runner.

Les Edwards continued his strong early-season form, striking 53 from just 42 balls, before holing out on the deep mid-wicket boundary from the bowling of Terblanche.

This brought Rehan Hassan to the crease, fresh from consecutive centuries last weekend. Some tidy bowling from Todd, Jack Irwin and Jim Gatting managed to bring down the scoring rate temporarily but Hassan soon began to pierce the infield with regularity, while the limping Plumb showed his appetite for runs was unaffected by a lack of mobility.

Enfield then accelerated comfortably towards their victory target, eventually reaching 247-1 with four-and-a-half overs to spare. Hassan finished unbeaten on exactly 100, thereby recording his third consecutive century, while Plumb (84 not out) provided impressive support.

This result leaves Enfield in a three-way tie at the top of the table, with Winchmore Hill in ninth place.

Enfield welcome Harrow St Mary’s to Lincoln Road this Saturday, while Hill will seek to bounce back quickly when they travel to Eastcote.

A tougher test beckons for Enfield the following day when they visit Premier League side Finchley in the ECB National Club Championship.

Southgate Adelaide have slipped to fourth in Herts League Division Three B, 30 points behind leaders Luton Town & Indians II, after they were without a game at the weekend.

The unbeaten side are due to travel to Harpenden III on Saturday.