Ealing are back in business as they look forward to their last 16 tie against Blackheath in the Barbados & Smile Group Travel Cup, formerly The Conference Cup, on 7 July.

Ealing seem to be returning to their best as they have set the pace with Teddington at the top of the Middlesex County League. Their Cup tie against Blackheath must be the stand-out game, because their opponents, the 2013 beaten finalists, have set the standards in the Kent Premier League in an exceptional season.

The Cup holders Waltham face a tricky away match at Reigate Priory, and Sunbury host Essex League champions Wanstead, who rarely let a summer go by without at least one trophy.

The London cricket community have been so used to Ealing's high quality that it was a surprise when they failed to win the Middlesex crown for two consecutive years after seven titles on the trot. An early exit from the Conference Cup in 2013 was outweighed by laudable progress to the final of the ECB's National Club Championship, which they lost to West Indian Cavaliers on a farcical day at Riverside, Durham's headquarters – hardly a bad season. In league cricket   Winchmore Hill, in 2012, and Hampstead, 2013, enjoyed their turn as champions, and there were doubts about Ealing early this season when they were skittled for 65 at Hornsey.  

Hornsey won the game by seven wickets after their fine Australian all-rounder Michael Philipson had taken 5-20 and steered his side home with 33 not out, but Ealing recovered and moved up the table above the main pack. In 2013 Philipson hit 1,044 runs for Hornsey at an average of 52.20 and took 48 wickets at 14.52 to be voted league player of the year jointly with Steve Eskinazi, the Stanmore batsman.

Ealing announced themselves as possible champions again with a 10-wicket win over new challengers Twickenham and a seven-wicket win at Hampstead chasing 275, but their eagerly awaited home league clash with Teddington was rained off without a ball bowled.

Against Hampstead the Wilkin brothers put on 209 for the first wicket, with Oliver hitting 113 off 104 balls and Mylo scoring 93 at a similar rate. With Mylo top of the league batting aggregate and the dependable left-arm spinner Chris Peploe top of the bowling, Ealing looked set for a good season.

Blackheath, without a premier league title since 1984, have been strengthened by the arrival of the Essex ultra fast left-armer Tymal Mills, though injury reduced his availability. Results have been helped by the form of the Essex all-rounder Tanweer Sikander and former England Under-19 all-rounder Calum Haggett.  

Fives & Heronians, as a second-tier side in Essex, might be one of the outsiders for the Cup, but the prolific run-making of Mick Perry has swept them along. He hit 690 runs in his first 13 league and cup innings, including a run-a-ball 89 to dispose of Tunbridge Wells in the first round.

Barbados & Smile Group Travel Cup, round three (7 July)

Sunbury v Wanstead
Reigate Priory v Waltham (holders)
Bexley v Brentwood
Bromley v Colchester & East Essex
Ealing v Blackheath
Stanmore v Weybridge
Fives & Heronians v Harold Wood
Richmond v Aston Rowant