Saracens Herts Cricket League Division Two

Berkhamsted 203-9 Old Albanians 180-10

OLD ALBANIANS lost vital ground at the top of Division Two after losing by 23 runs at mid-table Berkhamsted on Saturday.

With league leaders Knebworth winning again, Graham Dill's men could not have picked a worse time to put in one of their worst performances of the season to date.

Berkhamsted batted first and struggled initially, constrained by some tight bowling and strong fielding which left them on a score of 90-5 before their middle order regained the side's composure, playing sensibly and striking the ball sweetly.

Having led the attack beautifully, for figures of 5-30, skipper Dill took himself off, much to the bemusement of his team mates and Berkhamsted's revival went from strength to strength and they ended their innings with a respectable, and unlikely, 203-9.

The Albanians reply was led off in its usual grand style by Paul Knight and Jon Baines who put on 44 for the first wicket before the partnership was broken when Baines was adjudged to be out leg before.

When Mote joined Knight at the crease, a similarly comfortable second wicket stand seemed to be in the offing until Mote needlessly got himself run out sparking a mini collapse in the Albanians innings.

Andrew McCree was bowled, Freedman soon followed and when Dill was then brilliantly caught at slip, his men had slumped to 110-5 prompting the home side to bring back their opening bowlers that again proved effective taking two more wickets including the valuable scalp of opener Knight.

Needing 40 runs with three wickets left, and plenty of overs in which to get them, the Albanians tail looked determined but two silly mix-ups brought about another two run outs and the inevitable happened when the visitors lost their final wicket 24 short of their target.

Although Old Albanians remain in second place in the league they are now 20 points adrift of the leaders with just seven games still remaining.