Hemel Hempstead Town's miserable start to the season reached a new low after suffering an eight-wicket drubbing by Welwyn Garden City on Saturday

Premier Division

Hemel Hempstead Town's miserable start to the season reached a new low after suffering an eight-wicket drubbing by Welwyn Garden City on Saturday.

Town crumbled to a dismal 40 all out and there was no danger of the rain affecting this match as Welwyn wrapped up victory by 3pm at Heath Park.

There were seven ducks for Hemel and three golden ducks in an innings to forget. Only Hemish Ilangaratne made any impact on the scoring as he struck 25 but their abject total left the result in no doubt.

Welwyn’s Scott Walter returned record-breaking figures of ten for 17 to single-handedly destroy Hemel.

Brad Finch took one for 21 and Brett Penny claimed one for 19 but they offered little resistance as Welwyn sealed the points in just 8.5 overs.

Division Two A

League-leaders Radlett Seconds continued their unbeaten start to the season after holding Northwood to a competitive draw.

After being put into the field, Radlett struck early with Neil Lederman (two for 56) removing one of the openers but a big partnership saw Northwood reach 143 for two.

The rest of session was evenly contested and wickets were shared between Michael Lee (two for 57), Troy Barrett (one for 27) and Neel Malde (one for 34) as Northwood posted an impressive 261 for six from their innings. Daniel Rodgers and Vishnal Vakhani both top-scored on 76.

The reply started badly as rain intervened and turned a good track into a tricky surface to bat on.

The top five struggled and Radlett found themselves in trouble on 25 for five before Lee (51 not out) and Barrett (47 not out) turned the contest around, along with a fine display from Armitage (77).

Radlett were chasing victory but ran out of overs as they finished on 201 for six from 32 overs. The result extended their lead at the top of the table to 34 points.

Division Two B

Bushey’s match against Harpenden Seconds was abandoned due to the wet weather.

After winning the toss, Bushey elected to bat first in overcast conditions which turned into light rain shortly after the game commenced.

Bushey lost Ubaid Nawaz (8) early on after being bowled by Guy Watts. However incoming batsman Michael Foley took the attack to Harpenden’s bowlers and scored a rapid 38, which included nine fours.

Foley was brilliantly stumped by Harpenden’s wicketkeeper off Joel Stewart, who had Lakhmir Singh (3) caught in slips not long after. Opener Nomaan Ilyas was then joined by Zulfy Muhuseen and the pair put on a steady partnership of 40 before Ilyas fell for 48.

Ganesh Kumar and Muhuseen rallied once again for Bushey and counter-attacked effectively with Kumar (30 not out) hitting a flurry of lofted drives and Muhuseen (55) piercing the offside field with elegant drives.

Muhuseen was eventually caught at mid-off by the bowling of impressive Stewart (four for 22), who removed Farouk Khan two balls later.

At this point the rain got significantly heavier, forcing the umpires to stop play with the score on 191 for six off 43 overs.

Hemel Hempstead Town Seconds’ game against Abbots Langley also failed to finish after rain struck.

Hemel batted first and reached 170 for six from 46 overs before the heavens opened.

Suren Perera scored 61 while Will Langley hit 35 and Ed Langley finished on 27 not out. Matt Dunstone finished with three for 41 while Lewis Hodgins took two for 35.

Division Eight B

Hemel Hempstead Fourths were denied the chance to defeat Old Elizabethans Seconds after the rain brought their match to a premature end.

Hemel batted first and scored 163 for nine from 46 overs.

Opener Mike Samuels hit 17 and Jim Langley notched 36. Dawood Iqbal struck 54 while there was 19 apiece for Hasan Ashraf and D Selvaras before the rain intervened.

Division Ten B

Watford Town Thirds maintained their 100 per cent record this season as they clinched a five-wicket win over Broxbourne Fourths for their seventh consecutive victory.

Town produced the most unlikely of run chases after losing the toss and being asked to bowl first.

Broxbourne’s top three scored quickly and freely and captain Imantha Silva carried his bat to score 100 from the last ball of the innings.

Town had lost their four main strike bowlers in the run up and tried to contain their hosts.

However, a combination of the wet conditions and some poor fielding cost them as Broxbourne scored 231 for nine.

Javed Raj was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with four for 46.

After heavy rainfall, Town were handed the task of chasing the total in just 27 overs after losing 20 to the weather.

They got off to a bad start losing a wicket in the first over. But this brought Si Sampat to the crease and he went on the attack, hitting 41 in no time at all to lift the Watford innings instantly.

Three quick wickets pulled Broxbourne back into the contest but a partnership of almost 150 from Richard Eames (60 not out) and Jidran Mohmand (65 not out) steered them to the target and maintained their winning run.