Saracens Herts League

Division Five A

A fine return of three for five by Sandeep Singh helped Watford Town Seconds begin the season with a 129-run success over Preston Seconds.

Watford won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision which was vindicated as James Sharp (58), Gunjan Hazarika (44), Charlie Hardwick (30) and Chirantan Hazarika (27) steered Watford to a total of 245 all out from 47 overs.

Singh (three for five), Sparsh Jain (two for eight) and Ahsan Sajjad (three for 22) then dismissed their visitors for just 116 to seal a comfortable margin of victory.

Radlett Thirds had the opening partnership of Rees Thomas and Nick Fielden to thank for their seven-wicket victory over Hitchin Seconds.

Electing to bat first, visitors Hitchin started boldly with Paul Smith (32) and Scott Perrin (68) to the fore.

However, Stuart Browne took three for 39 and Hitchin failed to build on an encouraging start to fold for 188.

Thomas (88) and Fielden (72) then set the home side on their way to victory, with the win tied up after 45.3 overs and with seven wickets to spare.

Hemel Hempstead Town Thirds failed in their run chase at Bentley Heath, falling 37 runs short.

Rory Fraser’s return of four for 50 looked to have put Hemel in a good position as the home side closed on 237 for nine.

However, Hemel were disappointing with the bat and, although Ram Hussain weighed in with a big 69 in the middle of the pack, they could not get close and were all out for 201.

Division Five B

Chipperfield Clarendon Seconds were frustrated after losing by just 12 runs at Luton Town & Indians Seconds.

Fielding first, Graham Gurney’s five for 32 went a long way to restricting the hosts to 133 all out, with Andrew Oliver (two for 20) and Nathan Wiles (two for 14) his accomplices.

But a batting collapse from Chipperfield resulted in an underwhelming total of 122; only Nigel Cousens (45) and Shawn Mepham (20) ever really got going in a disappointing batting display.

Division Six A

Matt Langston’s three for 33 was enough to guide Kings Langley Seconds to a narrow four-run win at home to Knebworth Park Thirds.

Having won the toss, Kings opted to make first use of the wicket and made a steady if unspectacular start; Kevin Rolfe (21) and Scott Rolfe (38) opening up.

Forty-one from Andrew Colquhoun and 38 from Langston helped move the score along as the hosts eventually reached 212 for eight in their allotted overs.

Knebworth soon recovered from the loss of opener David Barwick for a duck as Phil Stevens (24) and Pete Woods (51) took charge.

However, the combination of Langston and Duane Smith (two for 40) restricted the flow of runs and although a tense final over saw Knebworth hit 18 runs, they were unable to better Kings’ total.

Good work with the bat was undone by Northwood Seconds’ failure to remove their visitors as Redbourn Seconds picked up a six-wicket win.

Keith Watson (78) and Aaditya Gairola (64) put on a strong partnership but their example was not followed and the home side finished on 228 for seven.

Northwood threw everything at Redbourn with eight bowlers unable to get their teeth into the away side.

Redbourn eventually got home with six wickets in the bank.

Division Eight A

Northwood Town Seconds suffered an agonising defeat as they fell three runs short of victory at Potters Bar Thirds.

Having lost the toss, Town were sent into the field first up and debutant Maulin Patel enjoyed a sizable impact, just missing out on a memorable hat-trick.

Runs continued to flow at the other end though, with the Potters Bar top order in full flow. That was until Jack Daly sparked another collapse with some fine pace bowling.

However, a spirited and determined partnership took the visitors to 176 all out.

In response, a partnership of 89 between Ravi Ramawat and Fozan Haji put Town in control.

But just as things were moving along, a comical run-out brought the visitors back into the game. One hundred for one was soon 115 for five and despite some dogged resistance from the tail, ten runs off the final over proved just too much.

Eddie Gunning’s five-for was not enough as Langleybury Thirds were made to pay for a below-par batting display at Harpenden Fourths, going down by just four runs.

Harpenden opened with 59 from Duncan Gilson and a further 48 at three from Andy Salvesen.

But they were far from convincing in putting up a total of 163 all out. Gunning (five for 12) finished with a flourish.

The Langleybury resistance was feeble, with Josh Comes’ knock of 45 proving a flash in the pan. Late tail action from Ross O’Reilly (22 not out) and Mike Dobner (11) wasn’t enough and the innings ended on 159.

Division Eight B

Hemel Hempstead Town Fourths squeezed home against Northampton Exiles Seconds with two wickets to spare.

Put into bat, Northampton looked set for a lowly score until 71 at the tail from D. Patel helped boost their total to a far more respectable 186 all out. Jack Boughton (five for 24) had done the bulk of the damage and sent Hemel on course for victory.

Hemel then shared the runs around in reply, with John Clulow (33), Jim Langley (23) and Chris Pearson (23 not out) putting together the key knocks in reaching 190 for eight.

Division Nine A

Kings Langley Thirds were well beaten by Offord & Stopsley, going down by 99 runs at home.

The visitors raced to 263 for seven in their 50 overs. Josh Lloyd (three for 50) and young Liberty Maher (two for 51) were the pick of the bowlers for Kings.

In reply, the home side made a steady start to reach 80 for one at the halfway stage as Russell Knights moved towards his score of 61.

However, things unravelled in the second half as Kings faded to 154 all out.

Division Ten A

Chorleywood Thirds recorded their first opening day win for four seasons by keeping their nerve to secure a 12-run win at Hitchin Thirds.

Having been put in to bat, Wood reached a respectable 173 for five from their 50 overs.

After losing both openers early on, the visitors steadily built their innings with a half-century stand between Charles Hardcastle (34) and Gulam Sherali, who hit 20 before retiring with persistent back pain.

Steve Dunning put on a rapid 34, whilst Mike Reeve (35) top-scored. But Wood were further hampered as Dave Harrigan also retired after exacerbating a knee injury.

Dunning (four for 34) led the way in the field as Wood got home with ten balls to spare, removing their visitors for 161.

Regional Division A West

Despite having their opponents at nine for four at one stage, Chipperfield Clarendon Thirds lost by 50 runs against Northwood Town Thirds.

Chris Buckingham (four for 33) and Bruce Samson (three for 23) played pivotal roles in whittling through the Northwood line-up.

Mohamed Vanker formed more-than-useful unions with Salman Rizvi and Prakash Tailor though, as the home side reached a respectable 159 all out.

But Chipperfield fared no better at the crease and were skittled out for a paltry 110.

Malcolm Leach (24) and Dave Bunning (19) put up minimal resistance for the away side.

Mitesh Parmar and Taz Katira kept it tight early on before Rizvi and Nic Patel shared five wickets between them en-route to a comfortable margin of victory.

Regional Division B West

Chorleywood Fourths swept aside Met Police Bushey Thirds with a convincing 78-run win.

Wood were disappointed to post just 135 for nine, with only four batsmen reaching double figures.

Toby Lazeris top-scored with an aggressive 34 and Brian Saunders managed 24.

Mike Rose claimed three for 22 from nine overs whilst there were two wickets each for Gary Proctor and Neil Hodson.

Skipper Simon Dare then finished the job in style, taking two wickets in his one over as Met Police were bundled out for just 63 in 23 overs.

Regional Division C West

Kings Langley Fourths suffered an infuriating afternoon as they lost by 23 runs to Leverstock Green Fourths in a low-scoring affair.

Despite conceding 26 wides, Kings removed Levy for 88 as Barry Harding (three for nine), Hadi Rizvi (three for 25) and Billy Stephenson (two for 19) assumed control.

However, a poor start hampered Kings’ innings and they were all out for a dismal 60.