Saracens Herts League

Championship

Langleybury endured a 15-run loss at Flitwick on Saturday.

Tom Brall made his first team debut and, with Bury winning the toss and inviting the visitors to bat, it was he who shared the new ball with Josh Godden (six for 37).

The pair started strongly, Brall trapping one Flitwick opener in front before Godden accounted for the other in identical fashion.

Having dropped the dangerous Flitwick captain a couple of times it looked as though the visitors might gain control, however one more injudicious drive at Godden had him caught at mid-on.

Flitwick’s sixth-wicket partnership were able to steady the innings and save wickets in order to push the run rate up in the final overs.

Ross Channer and Luke Samarasinghe had strangled the Flitwick run-rate and built pressure on the lower order, however more poor fielding and some late hitting allowed Flitwick to post 187.

In reply, Langleybury once again lost early wickets as Nahim Amin fell across a straight ball and departed leg before wicket before Mo Manzoor was caught at slip.

Despite fine efforts from Samarasinghe and Channer near the death, Bury were never able to maintain the required run rate, finishing on 172 for nine.

Chorleywood lost at Knebworth Park by seven runs.

Knebworth batted first and Wood were happy to bowl them out for just 187 in the last of their 50 overs.

Wickets were shared around with three apiece for Jonathan Rice and Lyndon Ryan, with only two of the home side passing 20 runs.

In reply, the visitors struggled from the start and were 99 for eight before Rice and Ryan threatened to undo all Knebworth’s good work with the ball.

Wood reached 139 when Rice was dismissed for 21. Ryan continued towards the target with his younger brother Josh, but after hitting consecutive sixes, was finally dismissed for 46 with Wood agonisingly short of a stunning comeback.

Premier Division

Hemel Hempstead suffered a five-wicket defeat to continue their dismal recent record against Stevenage.

Visitors Stevenage won the toss and put Hemel into bat with the hosts all out for 189.

Hemish Ilangaratne hit 62 and Adam Winchester scored 27, leaving the hosts 151 for four before a collapse.

C Whitworth impressed with the ball, taking four for 24 from nine overs, including two maidens.

In reply, the visitors reached 193 with five wickets in hand and an over spare.

S Ali Kazimi top-scored with 43 and L Brown weighed in with 34 as E Lee hit the winning runs for Stevenage.

Gareth James was the only Hemel bowler to take more than one wicket, removing two of the visitors’ batsmen at the expense of 54 runs.

Division One

Kings Langley suffered a 17-run defeat away to Broxbourne.

In a very strong position at 151 for five, Kings were bowled out for 159 with Simon Walker (76) and Tom Sambrook (49) top-scoring.

The visitors had their hosts on 140 for nine but the final partnership of 36 proved crucial as Broxbourne reached 176.

Mark Brazier (five for 70) and Andrew Burnell (four for 27) took the wickets for Kings.