Daman beat Bloody Lads by four runs in a highly entertaining game at London Fields to make it three wins from their opening four matches in the North East London Cricket League.

Although Daman won the toss and decided to bat, they put in a poor display after losing two wickets in the first two overs.

A good performance by Afzal Ussen (32 from eight balls) helped them to what still looked like a meagre total of 108 all out from just 19.1 overs, which must have had the Lads excited about the prospect of a second successive win.

However, Daman kept their spirits up and thanks to some spectacular work in the field they bowled the Lads out for 104 in the 25th over to win by four runs.

Mukhtar Shekh was the pick of the Daman bowlers with three wickets, while Max Bennet (20) was unlucky to be on the losing side.

Last year’s champions GB Strikers returned to winning ways with an eight-wicket victory over Bloomsbury Royals at Millfields.

Bloomsbury elected to bat but were restricted to 164-9 by the excellent Zakaria Bham (3-22 in eight overs), despite a solid 31 for Bulbul Kadir.

The Royals looked in much deeper trouble at 85-9 but a sterling rearguard action from Ben Hayward (26 not out) and Vishal Agarwal (27no) gave their bowlers something to bowl at.

Unfortunately for them, openers Ammar Malji (56) and Sufyaan Data (44) were in imperious form, bringing up a century opening stand within 10 overs.

Rizwan Mulla (36no) led the Strikers home for a comfortable win in the 18th over, as they kept the pressure on unbeaten leaders London Fields.

Tower Hamlets beat Clapton & Oval by eight wickets at Springfield Park to record their second win of the season, thanks to a career-best 59 for opener Sad Ahmed.

Clapton won the toss and decided to bat, but posted only 101 as they were bowled out inside 31 overs. Ronny Ahmed bowled exceptionally and picked up career best figures of 3-10 from his seven overs.

Hamlets began their chase comfortably as openers Imran Hussain and Sad Ahmed put on a 50-run opening stand.

The finishing touches were left to captain Mahbub Hussain and Ronny Ahmed, who struck a boundary to seal the win.

This Saturday Clapton & Oval will attempt to bounce back against Daman at Millfields, while two sides without a victory so far – Coach & Horses and Royal Sovereign – contest the Northwold Road derby at London Fields.