Teddington CC skipper James Keightley has called on his batsmen to improve as their pursuit of league glory starts to stutter.

Keightley’s men went down to Richmond on Saturday after being skittled for just 111, chasing 200 having had the visitors 25-5.

Teddington have been on poor form of late, dropping to second in the Middlesex County Premier League after just one win in four.

Keightley was adamant that the responsibility lay with their batsmen to turn their fortunes around.

“They need to turn up and perform in the last five weeks as the bowlers have certainly been doing their job,” he said.

“It’s down to a lack of time in the middle.

“We’re playing less Sunday cricket this year and some of the guys have high-powered jobs in the City which makes training difficult.

“Some home truths were shared after the last game, so we’re going to try shifting the order around a bit.

“But we’re not panicking. It’s just a case of a few tweaks, nothing drastic.

“At one point behind [league leaders Ealing] with five to play we’re in a good position.”

Ben Ladd-Gibbon took 4-31 against Richmond.

In his first full season he now has 26 wickets in all competitions at an average of 13.6.

Keightley said: “He’s been fantastic. He has provided us with something we have not had for a few years – a genuinely quick bowler.

“He’s quickest in the league and has shown that he is capable of blowing opponents away.”

On the back of their win, Richmond are up to fifth in the table.

Alex Griffiths (72) and Jack Porter (47) put on 121 for the sixth wicket, while Scott Power took 5-48.

Meanwhile Twickenham dropped to fourth after going down to North Middlesex.

Set a daunting 278 to win (Gurjit Sandhu with 4-43), Twickenham were 172 all out despite David Russell’s 58.