Herts Cricket League

Division Ten

Ten-man Chorleywood Thirds notched up their second win of the season as they overcame fellow-strugglers Hertingfordbury Seconds by 54 runs.

Batting first, Wood posted a competitive score of 183 for seven from their 53 overs with wicket-keeper Andy Orange holding the innings together with a magnificent unbeaten 91.

Orange hit 14 boundaries in his highest league score for Wood as he successfully shepherded his side in the latter overs of the innings to put them in a winning position. Debutant Alistair Gammell also chipped in as he scored 35.

Wood’s bowlers then quickly got stuck into the Bury batsmen, picking up early wickets to put the visitors on the back foot from the start.

Dave Brabham ended with three for 12 from his 7.1 overs while there was three for 26 for fellow opener Ciaran Ladd. Harry Hardcastle and Vikash Dhodia took two wickets apiece as Wood secured the win in the 38th over.

Division 11 West

Langleybury Fourths suffered a comprehensive nine-wicket defeat against Watford Town Thirds.

Bury batted first but were poor throughout the innings.

Tom McHugh, with 27, was the only Bury batsman to get to double figures as the side were all out of just 60 in 23 overs.

It was never a total that troubled Watford, who chased down the runs for the loss of one wicket in the 12th over.

Bushey Thirds maintained their promising start to the campaign with a five-wicket win against St Albans Fourths.

Bushey were put into the field after losing the toss but a fine opening spell from Haseeb Ali (six for 17) destroyed their top order and St Albans were all out for just 89.

Bushey’s reply got off to a decent start with Tony Norton making 26. After a slight wobble, Dharmin Naik (16) and Khurram Nawaz (15 not out) calmly took Bushey over the line.

Rickmansworth Fifths’ draw against Mill Hill Village was enough for them to move top of the table.

Openers Jonathan Cox (50) and Gajan Rudrakumar (56) gave Rickmansworth a solid start with a 79-partnership.

The middle order all contributed and a rapid 46 not out from Bilal Mohammed, which featured six sixes, saw Ricky declare on 245 for seven off 45 overs.

Brendan Lindsay (two for 58) dismissed both Mill Hill openers as the home side were reduced to 16 for two.

But but solid partnerships for the third and fifth wickets slowed Rickmansworth’s progress and made a draw inevitable. Mill Hill finished on 210 for six.

Hemel Hempstead Fifths were unable to build on their first win of the season as they were beaten by Old Elizabethans Thirds by four wickets.

Hemel posted 179 for nine with the bat. Mike Samuels scored 51 and Tony Linfoot added 30.

Elizabethans were always likely to chase down that total and they cruised to victory with ten balls and four wickets to spare.

Division 12 West

League-leaders Watford Town Fifths completed a resounding 152-run win against West Herts Fourths.

Town produced their best batting display of the season as they posted 231 for nine from their 47 overs.

Ian Sampson struck 38 and Terry Dixon added 25 but the top score was from 16-year-old Dan Conroy, who made his first senior half-century.

West Herts’ reply got off to a good start but all their early hard work was halted by a great spell from Dixon, who took five for 15 off eight overs.

He was well supported by A. Sajjad with three for eight and the duo saw Watford to victory as West Herts were all out for 79.

Abbots Langley Fourths completed an eight-wicket victory against Rickmansworth Fourths.

Abbots bowled their opponents out for 136 with Neil White (three for 46), Jerry Graves (three for 31) and Mathew Longworth taking the wickets in a good fielding display.

When Abbots batted, Longworth continued his good run of form with 40 not out. He was ably assisted by Reza Khan (43 not out) and Dan Knight (28) and that saw Abbots home to a comfortable win.

Tail-ender Greg Coulshed hit Leverstock Green Fourths’ winning run as they defeated Shenley Village Fourths by one wicket.

Coulshed had earlier in the game taken five wickets as Village were skittled for just 150.

In reply, veteran Chris Renwick also starred for Green with a studious 42 at number three, however the key last-wicket partnership of Coulshed and his captain Mark Pearson (24 not out) stood firm to see Levy home.

Watford Town Fourths remain top of the table after they defeated Kings Langley Fourths by a 36-run margin.

Town batted first but posted a disappointing 89 on a slow pitch. It proved enough to secure victory though, as Kings were dismissed for just 53. Darren Currie (three for 30) was the stand out bowler for Watford.

Chorleywood Fourths continued their good form as they won by 42 runs at Harpenden Sixths.

Wood piled on the runs and were able to declare on 173 for two from 43 overs. That was mainly down to a magnificent unbroken stand of 142 between Ed Rogers and Sam Hatfield.

Wicket-keeper Rogers hit his maiden half-century in senior cricket as he finished on 72 not out, while Wood declared when Hatfield reached his 50.

It was a familiar tale with the ball for Wood as Mick Rose then ran through the Harpenden line-up to take six for 36 in his 15 overs. There were also wickets for Simon Dare, Adrian Bryant and Amy Hensman.

Rickmansworth Fifths lost to Abbots Langley Fourths by eight wickets.

Rickmansworth batted first and only Bhavesh Chauhan (41), Barry Richardson (20) and Garry Skinner (16) managed any scores of note in a total of 136 for ten.

Abbots had no difficulty in chasing that total and only lost two wickets on their way to victory.