North County endured a mixed league campaign in 2026, eventually finishing eighth after a season in which much of the burden fell on a handful of players.
There were c
ertainly individual bright spots, none more impressive than Lochie Hardy, who was comfortably the standout performer with both bat and ball.
The overseas star amassed 877 runs at an average of 48.72, including three centuries and two half-centuries, with a highest score of 134. His tally contained 116 fours and 31 sixes and left him well clear as North County’s leading run-scorer. He also made a major contribution with the ball, taking 25 wickets at 25.52, including two five-wicket hauls, to complete an excellent all-round season.
Suliman Safi was the next most productive batter with 546 runs at 28.74, reaching three half-centuries and one hundred, while John Devane provided some useful stability with 427 runs and a highest score of 78 not out. Alan Joseph Mathew also had a solid campaign. He scored 389 runs, including an unbeaten century, before finishing as the club’s leading wicket-taker with 30 wickets at 24.10.
Eddie Richardson remained an important figure in the side, contributing 356 runs and taking 25 wickets at 25.64. His experience and consistency were particularly valuable during a season in which North County struggled to find enough contributors across the XI.
Jamie Grassi added 303 runs, including two half-centuries, but below the leading group the returns fell away sharply. Jake Devane was the only other player to pass 100 runs, highlighting one of the central problems of the campaign.
North County simply did not get enough sustained output through the middle and lower order, leaving themselves too dependent on Hardy, Safi and a small number of experienced players to build competitive totals.
The bowling had similar issues. Brandon Morris claimed 13 wickets at 22.46, including a five-wicket haul, while Husnain Maroof impressed in limited opportunities with eight wickets at 16.75.
There were enough individual performances to suggest that the foundations remain sound, but an eighth-place finish reflected the lack of consistency across the season. For North County, the priority for 2027 will be obvious: turn occasional contributions into regular ones and reduce the reliance on their leading performers.
If they can find greater depth with both bat and ball, there is every reason to believe they can move back towards the upper half of the table.
NORTH COUNTY – TOP 10 BATTERS
1. Lochie Hardy – 877 runs, average 48.72, HS 134, 3 hundreds, 2 fifties
2. Suliman Safi – 546 runs, average 28.74, HS 111, 1 hundred, 3 fifties
3. John Devane – 427 runs, average 23.72, HS 78*, 2 fifties
4. Alan Joseph Mathew – 389 runs, average 27.79, HS 100*, 1 hundred
5. Eddie Richardson – 356 runs, average 22.25, HS 90, 3 fifties
6. Jamie Grassi – 303 runs, average 20.20, HS 78*, 2 fifties
7. Jake Devane – 181 runs, average 12.93, HS 64, 1 fifty
8. Brandon Morris – 95 runs, average 10.56, HS 27
9. Mohammad Sherzad – 79 runs, average 13.17, HS 34
10. Sean Sludds – 68 runs, average 5.67, HS 24
NORTH COUNTY – TOP 10 BOWLERS
1. Alan Joseph Mathew – 30 wickets, average 24.10, BBI 3-9
2. Lochie Hardy – 25 wickets, average 25.52, BBI 5-44
3. Eddie Richardson – 25 wickets, average 25.64, BBI 4-21
4. Brandon Morris – 13 wickets, average 22.46, BBI 5-41
5. Abdul Ghaffar – 13 wickets, average 41.92, BBI 4-34
6. Sean Sludds – 10 wickets, average 56.00, BBI 3-38
7. Husnain Maroof – 8 wickets, average 16.75, BBI 4-15
8. Jake Devane – 8 wickets, average 31.38, BBI 3-67
9. Ashish Jain – 2 wickets, average 35.00, BBI 2-30
10. Sarthak Pant – 1 wicket, average 2.00, BBI 1-2