Division Eight

Hemel Hempstead Fourths are only 15 points clear of the drop zone going into the last weekend of the season following a nine-wicket drubbing at the hands of Sawbridgeworth Thirds.

Only Owen McGinty (29) and Dean Breed (22) made it past 20 as Hemel were dismissed for 123, before Sawbo cantered to victory in 22 overs.

Division Nine

Kings Langley Thirds slipped to a seven-wicket defeat at Old Elizabethans Seconds to effectively end their promotion ambitions.

The visitors made a disappointing 125 all out, as only David Burnell offered any resistance with 30.

Langley's bowling attack was understrength and they were no match for the home side, who coasted home.

Abbots Langley Thirds lost against London Colney Seconds by two wickets in a closely-fought match.

Lee Rossiter continued his good season with a quick 53 and along with Reza Khan (36), held things together for Abbots as they reached 167 all out.

Rossiter then took two early wickets to put Abbots in charge, wigth Bob Russell bowled well for his three for 28, but a late Colney charge secured the win in a tense finish.

Division Ten

Chorleywood Thirds secured their place in the top half of the division after a draw away at Flamstead Seconds.

Batting first, Wood got off to a flying start with openers Simon Dare and Rob Dunstone putting on 136 for the first wicket in just 25 overs, before Dare was dismissed for 73. Dunstone then fell just short of his half-century for 47, before Wood became bogged down and were unable to keep up the scoring rate. Charles Hardcastle hit 36, but nobody else was able to really score quickly as his side eventually declared on 210 for seven after 50 overs.

Wood started well with the ball, picking up early wickets to put Flamstead on the back foot, before a lengthy fifth-wicket stand steadied things for the home side. Once that stand was broken by Wood’s David Harrigan, who finished with four for 27, Flamstead lost any interest in going for the win and were content to bat out the remaining overs, finishing on 147 for seven.

Division 11 West

Watford Town Thirds continued their rise up the divisions after beating Northwood Town Thirds by 11 runs in a low-scoring match to make it four promotions in five years and third championship in four.

Having won the toss, Andy Canning's side appeared to be on the back foot when they bowled out for 107, with only Javed Rajpurkar (41) making a significant contribution.

But once again Watford's bowlers stepped up to the plate to set up yet more celebrations, as Tamiur Abbas (five for 37) and Jidran Mohmand (four for 37) did the damage to dismiss Northwood for 96.

Chess Valley League Division One

Hemel Hempstead got the win they needed to keep up at the top of the table after beating Chesham by four wickets on Sunday. But the Heath Park side are now second, level on points with Radlett but with a lower run rate.

Batting first, Chesham made steady progress and were 119 for three at the halfway point of their innings. Their opponents kept plugging away though, with Parth Mehta taking four for 36 from his ten overs and Josh Graves was also parsimonious in claiming two for 23 from eight as Chesham were dismissed for 186.

After a steady start, Graves exploded onto the scene, crashing 61 from 33 balls, including hitting five sixes as M.Steen's sole over disappeared for 32. Jay O'Nien also made 41 as his side got home in 35 overs.

Division Four

Chorleywood fell just two runs short of victory in an agonisingly close finish to their game at home to Long Marston.

Wood's bowlers performed well to restrict Marston to 209 for seven in their innings, with spinner Ryan Toms (three for 32) and skipper Jamie Smithson (two for 36) both among the wickets.

In reply, Ben Brooks top-scored with 54, whilst there was 36 apiece for Toms and Callum Neal. But Wood lost wickets late on and were just unable to scramble the runs needed form the last ball of the game as they well just short.

North London League

Radlett Women completed their North London League campaign with a five-wicket win over Old Actonians on Sunday to finish second in Division A.

The 9am start meant the pitch at Cobden Hill was still heavy with due and would favour the team batting second, but the hosts were put in after losing the toss.

After a slow start to the Radlett innings, Anna Harris made 53 as the score accelerated to allow the home side to post a very competitive 140 for three from their 30 overs.

Some highly accurate seam bowling from Katie Pankhurst and Amy Price ensured Actonians were struggling at ten without loss after their first ten overs. Wickets then started to fall but the visitors also increased the run rate to haul themselves into a position of parity with five overs remaining.

But skipper Katie Pankhurst was able to turn to Chloe Frame (one for 13) and Alice Lawman (nought for 11) and they restricted Actonians to 20 runs in the last five overs - leaving them 22 runs short on 118 for five