The villagers started the new season as they finished the old with a comprehensive victory.

On a difficult track they successfully chased a low score for the loss of just two wickets, the whole game only just using half the allotted overs.

Skipper Matt Woodward had won the toss and asked Old Cholmeleians to bat on the wet and uneven surface.

Shenley started well, claiming their first wicket in the third over when Jon Haley clean bowled the opener Moerdyk for 0.

By the end of the fifth over the home side were struggling at 8-2 with Ed Lillywhite claiming his first wicket of the season.

Lillywhite removed a further two Cholmeleians' batters, although they rallied a little with some useful hitting from Dickens, who made 24.

The score was 40-3 when Woodward replaced Haley to bowl his off-spin. Aided by the helpful pitch he quickly claimed three wickets to leave the home side reeling at 55-8.

Chris McDonald chipped in with one dismissal before he was replaced by Richard Evans who went on to claim the last two wickets to close the hosts' innings for just 79.

Even a modest target was going to require some application, as the wicket was playing a little erratically although it had improved as it dried.

However Jemile Al-Darraji had different ideas and smashed ten from the first two balls he received as opening bowler J Dickens struggled for his line. Evans was unlucky to be sent back for two when he fell to a sharp caught and bowled effort when the score was 19.

Vernon Senanayake joined Al-Darraji and together they added 40 in the course of the next 12 overs before Senanayake chipped a half hearted drive to mid-off when he had made 24.

With only 20 left to get Rahul Gajjar (9 not out) helped Al-Darraji (44 not out) see the villagers through to a comfortable victory in the 18th over.

Shenley Village play host to Botany Bay II next week in their first home game of the league season.

f=GillSans Shenley Village II 1054

Southgate Compton II 102

Saracens Herts League

Division Nineo

Shenley IIs started their league season by winning the toss and inserting Southgate in their first game in Division Nine. Shenley's bowlers kept it tight and had Southgate all out for 102.

In reply, Andy Lewis and Dave Stubbs opened the batting and advanced to reach the small target of 103. With 44 on the board Stubbs inexplicably played across the line and was bowled for 21. Soon after Lewis played a shot which hit the fielder in the stomach, and he gingerly held onto it to remove him for 22 runs and 47 on the scoresheet.

Bob Sangaran and Andy Green were now in and went after the bowling, but a fantastic catch by the youngest player Fahey for Southgate at mid wicket stunned Sangaran, as he had thought he had hit a glorious shot for four runs, but was caught out.

Davenall was brought in and chipped in with breezy 11 runs before being bowled, with the score on 90 for four and the game almost over Burkhardt (10 not out) and Green (29 not out) took them home to their first win of the season.

SHENLEY: Lewis, Stubbs, Sangaran, Green, Davenall, Burkhardt, Munting, Wood, Jenkins, Elliott, Clark

Old Cholmeleians 79

Shenley Village 80-2

May 7, 2003 16:00