Division Eight

Bushey Seconds secured a six-wicket victory over Hemel Hempstead Fourths to register their first win of the season.

Aaron Wilson was in excellent form for Hemel as the Under-17 opener hit 105 but his teammates could not help him out. His innings was the only significant one as Hemel were dismissed for 153.

The Bushey innings started poorly with in-form Sagheer Ahmed dismissed early on. Young Tahmoor Hussein (56 not out) joined Shaid Manzoor to make a 49-run partnership which re-established control.

After Shaid was dismissed, Waheed Anjum (44) joined Tahmoor (56) and they smashed 74 off only nine overs to seal victory.

An inexperienced Langleybury Thirds side suffered a comprehensive ten-wicket defeat against Mill Hill Village.

Langleybury were skittled with just 53 runs on the board and it was a total that Village easily chased down.

Division Ten

Kings Langley Thirds moved up to fifth in the table after they secured a dramatic one-run victory against Datchworth Seconds.

Kings scored a modest 119 all out on a tricky pitch, with Radleigh Tant top-scoring on 37 and Andrew Colquhoun adding 31.

Datchworth didn’t fare much better with the bat and with one ball left of the contest, they were one run behind with one wicket in hand. However they failed to take victory after their final batsman was run out.

Tant completed a good all-round display as he ended with three wickets, while Tim Gould, Mark Walker and Joe Sambidge took two apiece.

Abbots Langley Thirds claimed a five-wicket win against West Herts Thirds in a low-scoring contest.

West Herts batted first and they looked in major trouble on 28 for five. However, good work from the lower order meant they reached 145 all out. Neels Patel and Andrew Rueth both claimed three wickets.

Abbots had few problems with the bat. Phil Lewins top-scored with 47 not out and Abhi Rajan struck 37 as Langley cruised to victory.

Northwood Thirds were fortunate to secure a draw in their clash with Hitchin Thirds.

The team scored 204 for nine in 53 overs with colt Richard Mackey top-scoring on 54 and Martin Mendelssohn hitting 40.

However, Hitchin ran them close, scoring 80 off the last eight overs but still ended up four short on 200 for three.

Chorleywood Thirds managed to hold out for a draw against Stevenage Fourths despite looking destined to record their third loss of the season.

Wood asked the visitors to bat first in what turned out to be good conditions and Stevenage posted a total of 175 for eight from their 53 overs.

Spinners Will Bryant (three for 44) and Mick Rose (two for 33) were the pick of the Wood attack as they slowed the run rate down in the second half of the innings.

In reply, Wood slumped to 40 for six as four of their middle order were dismissed for ducks. But Rose batted out more than half the innings to help earn his side an unlikely draw.

Rose finished unbeaten on 31 and was supported by determined defensive knocks from Harry Hardcastle, Bexlee Andrew and a particularly heroic display from number 11 Sujoy Dey in the final over.

Division 11

On the back of two consecutive wins, Chipperfield Clarendon Thirds were held to a draw at Flitwick Thirds.

Losing the toss, the opposition elected to bat and then proceeded to dispatch the Chipperdons attack to all corners of the ground, with their cause not helped by bowling 33 wides and six no balls in a total of 45 extras.

An opening stand of 64, followed by a second-wicket stand of 89 put the home side well and truly on the front foot and after 42 overs, Flitwick declared on 242 for five.

Chipperfield’s opening bowlers toiled away without success and the introduction of Janak Patel, the four-wicket star from the previous week, saw his three overs go for 49 runs.

The best of the bowlers was Guy Kempston, who picked up three for 56, with Josh Bunning weighing in with two wickets towards the end.

Dave Bunning and Malcolm Leach opened the batting for Chipperdons against a young opening fast bowler, who would easily hold down a place in a much higher division.

With such an accurate bowling attack, runs were difficult to come by and with the exception of Dave Bunning (43), the run chase was never on and after 48 overs the match concluded in a draw with the away side on 91 for five.