Saracens Herts League

Premier Division

Jonathan McClean and Kabir Toor both smashed their way to centuries as champions Radlett laid down a marker with a crushing 136-run win over North Mymms on Saturday.

After opener Fraser Crawford had been dismissed for just six, Toor took to the crease and proceeded to thrash his way to 106 from just 122 deliveries, hitting ten fours on his way.

Joe Cooke chipped in with 33 before McLean then got in on the act, blasting 133 from a mere 70 balls. The skipper made 21 boundaries, including eight sixes.

With their 50 overs up, Radlett had reached an imposing total of 323 for four.

North Mymms gave chase but were always up against it, particularly with Matt Creese (four for 37) in ruthless mood.

All out for 187 after 36.5 overs, Radlett are joint top after the opening weekend.

Hemel Hempstead Town made the worst possible start to the new season, going down by ten wickets at home to Sawbridgeworth.

Brett Penny (41) and Hemish Ilangaratne (28) had the home side off to a solid start and Jay O’Nien (21) and Sam Jenkinson (55) did their bit to boost the score.

And despite slim pickings from the rest of the line-up, Hemel put up a respectable 228 all out.

But Sawbo were in no mood to play and Charlie Rudkin (111 not out) and Gary Brown (110 not out) did the damage in snappy fashion.

Championship

Chetan Depala took three for 33 as Langleybury began their campaign with a five-wicket win at West Herts.

Inserted, the home side huffed and puffed en-route to 171 for eight. Anthony Griffin laboured to 31 for 82 deliveries, whilst Matthew Smith chipped in with 40.

An unbeaten 37 from captain Ian Gurney, batting at number eight, helped boost the West Herts total but they were always up against it after a sparse return from the middle order.

Nahim Amin (27) and Depala (30) provided a reasonable start to the Langleybury reply but it was not until Rhys Williams (40 not out) and Daniel O’Connell (48 not out) that the visitors could breathe easier.

Gurney added to his knock with a return of three for 25 but ultimately it was not enough as the away side made it to 173 with five wickets to spare.

Chorleywood came up against a Botany Bay batting line-up firing on all cylinders as they fell to a seven-wicket defeat in their opening game.

Wood batted first and put on what looked a decent total as they made 207 for nine from their 50 overs. Callum Neal (43) and Peter Dunning (42) were the pick of the Wood batsmen.

In the field, Wood found themselves blitzed by the home side’s attacking intent, with opener Kasey Harris hitting a fine, though not chanceless 90, before becoming one of birthday boy Jamie Smithson’s two victims.

Bay eventually cantered home in the 45th over to take the 30 points.

Division One

Kings Langley got off to the ideal start as they enjoyed a six-wicket win at Broxbourne, Dan Donaldson’s three for 18 proving vital.

Invited to field first, Kings had their hosts at 32 for two after Ben Joyce (one for 27) and Andrew Burnell (one for 37) applied early pressure.

And although the hosts built some momentum through Alexander O’Sullivan (37) and George Davies (47), they were all out for 160 as Donaldson cleaned up the tail.

The Kings reply was strong as Duncan Fleming (40) and Burnell (44) put on an opening stand of 100 before Fleming eventually succumbed. Burnell then fell before another run was put on the board.

And just ten runs later Harry Sambrook, at three, was also heading back to the pavilion.

But the threatened collapse never happened thanks to the partnership of Tom Sambrook (15) and Paul Ashford (37 not out), who combined effectively to steer the away side to the necessary 163 for four.

Division Two A

Birthday captain Daniel Foster got Radlett Seconds off on the right foot, beating Old Owens by 57 runs thanks to his six-wicket haul.

Electing to bat first, Foster’s side posted a competitive 188, with 46 from Jonny Armitage and 37 from Hemal Malde the highest scores of the innings.

Radlett had their hosts on the back foot from ball one, with good opening spells from Ross Carpenter and Malde putting the pressure firmly on Owens.

Simeon Cohen marked his return from 18 months out with figures of one for 38 but it was captain Foster’s day. Celebrating his 26th birthday with figures of six for 14 off his nine-over spell, the skipper drove his side to victory as Old Owens were out for 131.

Stuart Reeve’s five-for helped Northwood breeze to a 25-run triumph at Holtwhites Trinibis.

Batting after winning the toss, Northwood put themselves in a strong positon after openers Daniel Rodgers and Richard Murphy made 48 and 30 respectively.

Forty-one further down the order from Reeve and 68 by Neil Sargeant steered the visitors towards a total of 219 for nine.

An underwhelming start from Holtwhites was forgotten when the middle order came alive but Reeve’s five for 37 ensured the good work of the Northwood batting line-up was not undone as the home side were restricted to 194 for eight.

Division Two B

Met Police Bushey suffered a stuttering start to the new season as they slipped to a three-wicket home defeat by Eversholt.

Put into bat first on a tricky wicket, Bushey tried and failed to get to grips with the conditions as openers Harry Blagden (5) and Gareth Thomason (0) were removed cheaply.

In at three, Simon Hamilton hit a quick-fire 52 which included eight boundaries but it could not stem the tide.

Only Dan Nightingale (17) made double figures from there as the Met were unable to arrest a slump to 111 all out.

Yet there was cause for optimism with the ball as Ben Goode (two for 15) and Nightingale (two for 16) accounted for the top of the Eversholt order without conceding too many runs.

However, Zardad Khan (27) and Jack Fuller (25 not out) put on the partnership which saw the visitors home with three wickets in hand.

A century from Scott Newman was not enough for Abbots Langley as they suffered an 11-run loss at home to Harpenden Seconds.

Batting first, Harpenden put up a good total of 213 for eight, with Mike Howard’s 53 the highlight. Matt Dunstone took three for 22 but the home side were up against it.

However, a knock of 101 from opener Newman suggested all might not be lost for Abbots, who promptly proceeded to fold.

Jack Read (21) and Barry Warner (30) were the only other batsmen to make double figures as Newman’s ton brought his side within 11 runs of victory before they were removed for 202.

Hemel Hempstead Town Seconds picked up their first win over Cockfosters since 2003 as they racked up a comfortable 102-run success.

Put in by Cockfosters, the home side began slowly but gradually built towards a total of 192 for seven with the middle of the order starring.

Josh Graves (55) and Nick Hodgins (32 not out) provided the key knocks for the home side.

Hodgins then turned his attentions to rattling through the away team, helping himself to four for 18, whilst Ed Langley managed three for 24 as Cockfosters were dismissed for 90.