Abbots Langley will be hoping final history does not repeat itself when they face Radlett in the last four of the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield with a place in the climax to the 50th anniversary of the competition at stake.

The two sides met in the 2014 and 2015 finals of the limited overs tournament and on both occasions it was the Cobden Hill side who prevailed, meaning they are now within two victories of lifting the trophy for a third time in five years.

Kabir Toor was in excellent form with the bat as Radlett beat Aldenham by 50 runs in their quarter-final on Tuesday, but the finish was much more tense as Abbots edged out West Herts by the narrowest of margins to also secure their place in the last four on the same evening.

Toor carried his strong Herts League form into the limited overs clash to score a fine century and help his side to 204-3 off their 14, eight-ball overs, before they restricted their opponents to 154-8.

Having chosen to bat, Radlett were 27-1 in the third over when Toor came to the crease. He proceeded to dominate a 130-run partnership with Will Wright which ended when the latter fell for 32 in the 12th over.

Toor was run out in the next over but not before he had cracked seven sixes and the same number of fours en route to making 101.

Troy Barrett, at number five, struck a whirlwind 26 off seven deliveries and Matthew Rose finished on 13 not out as his side surpassed 200.

Barrett (1-24) removed skipper Chris Munroe (11) in the second over, but Radlett’s progress was to be delayed by a 57-run second-wicket partnership between Charlie Munroe and Barry Letts.

Rose (2-35) accounted for Letts for 38, but his teammate was to reach 44 before he was dismissed by Wright (1-18) in the 12th over as the Herts League big guns secured victory.

Abbots’ chances of progressing looked slim when Matt Smith (3-8) helped put them in deep trouble at 39-5.

But opener David Cleary (34) was still in the middle and in conjunction with Jack Read (36), they produced what was to prove a critical 47-run sixth-wicket partnership as the hosts ultimately closed on 110-7 off their 14 overs.

It was then Matt Dunstone’s turn to star with ball in hand as he claimed 4-15 to help reduce West Herts to 34-5.

Smith made 18 and Richard Mason was to finish unbeaten on 36 after a 49-run stand between the pair, but the Stags’ hopes of a 16th final appearance were to finish an agonising one-run short as they closed on 109-7.

Aldenham School’s competition hopes also ended on Tuesday as they were beaten by 47 runs in another low-scoring contest against Langleybury in the bottom half of the draw.

Danny Walker top-scored with 38 not out as Bury posted 136-6, but the School team suffered heavily under the competition’s four runs for a wide rule as 67 of the 70 extras came via that route.

Aldenham were then restricted to 89-5 in reply by their opponents, who will now face the winners of Chipperfield Clarendon’s clash with holders Kings Langley. They are due to meet on Tuesday.

Semi-final line-up (seeds in bold):

Radlett v Abbots Langley (to be played at Kings Langley on Tuesday, June 19)

Langleybury v Chipperfield Clarendon or Kings Langley (to be played at Abbots Langley on Thursday, June 21)