Abbots Langley claimed their first win of the campaign as they defeated St Albans West Indians

Division Two

Abbots Langley claimed their first win of the campaign as they defeated St Albans West Indians by four wickets.

Winning the toss and electing to field first, Abbots were in total control, sending St Albans reeling to 80 for seven. However, a solid eighth-wicket partnership rallied St Albans, who posted a competitive 150 all out on a difficult pitch.

Skipper Matt Dunstone claimed four for 43 and Steve Wallis took two 23. Nick Gurney polished off the tail for figures of three for 25.

Abbots’ reply started off strongly with Peter Metcalfe (25) and Ben Balmforth (41) putting on 50 for the first wicket.

Four quick dismissals then put Abbots on the back foot but Aussie Jimmy Davies (49) and a patient 19 not out from stalwart Barry Warner took Abbots to a well-earned victory.

Met Police Bushey were beaten by eight runs in a low-scoring contest against Watford Town.

Bushey started the game in the field and lost early wickets. But a vital partnership between Ibrar Hanif (26) and Ravi Panchal (34) helped salvage the innings and they ended on 103.

Panchal was the stand-out performer with the ball for Watford and he ran through the Bushey order to finish with seven for 31.

Bushey showed some resistance but they were unable to chase down the total and were skittled just short of their target.

A good bowling display helped Northwood record a 48-run win against Wheathampstead.

Wood started the game with the bat but a host of wickets fell cheaply. Richard Murphy struck 40 and Stuart Reeve scored 28 as the home side posted a total of 165 all out.

Wheathampstead never got going in their reply and spin duo Dhaval Panchal (four for 33) and Ross Noach (four for 36) helped dismiss the visitors for 117 with two overs remaining.

Hemel Hempstead Town Seconds moved up to fourth in the table after they completed a comfortable six-wicket win against Ickleford.

Hemel bowled first and a strong all-round display from their attack saw Ickleford dismissed for just 159.

Billy May claimed three for 27 while Duncan Howard ended with three for 38. There were also single wickets for Matt Dale, Chris Blunt and Charlie Hoskins.

Hemel’s reply was led by Suren Perera, who scored 14 runs from the first four deliveries. He was dismissed leg before wicket but Graham Clark (42), Jon Pearson (27) and Tom Waterton (26 not out) saw Hemel to a comfortable win.

A first draw of the summer for Leverstock Green saw them slip back into second place after running out of overs when chasing Cockfosters’ target of 154.

Green’s slow bowling rate was punished by the loss of six overs – although Cockfosters, who forced their hosts to close on 135 for nine at the end, might have ended up feeling they shouldn’t have deducted from an already-reduced 41-over allotment.

Lewis Koch struck a stylish 48 and skipper Dave Tyson made 28 as Levy ran out of time and wickets after Brad Klosterman’s five for 38 had earlier kept Fosters’ batsmen in check.

Division Four

Langleybury Seconds were able to hold on and secure a draw against Chorleywood Seconds.

Wood won the toss and batted on what proved to be a lively track. They went on to score 165 for nine with Habib Alam taking three wickets and Simon Ross and Kevin Affleck ending with two apiece.

Bury’s innings almost mirrored the opposition’s – Will Oxley (26) Alam (24) and Affleck (22) being the main contributors.

As the light faded and wickets tumbled, Bury held out for the draw at 137 for nine.

Division Five

An outstanding knock of 101 not out by Tom Elborn secured Hemel Hempstead Town Thirds a convincing 69-run win against Radlett Thirds.

Elborn led the way for his side with Anjam Khan (31) and John Clulow (11) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Hemel’s bowlers made sure their final total of 200 was more than enough. Khan claimed four for 12 in 5.3 overs while Adam Moulster (two for 30) and Ed Langley (two for 40) helped dismiss their opponents for just 131.

It’s seven wins from seven matches, all of which bowling first, for Leverstock Green Seconds after they scraped to victory in a low-scoring affair at Old Cholmeleians.

Captain Dayle Littlejohn invited the hosts to make first use of a damp track and took five for 23 as Cholms were dismissed for 84 – Sam Roberts’ marathon three-wicket spell a big factor behind the small total.

Four early wickets had Green fearing a first defeat of the season but Littlejohn – ably supported by Chrishan Casey and 24 from Jamie Wallis – scored an unbeaten 22. That allowed Roberts to smote a match-winning boundary for a two-wicket win.