Radlett bounced back from the disappointment of defeat against Chorleywood the previous week by thumping Hoddesdon to leave themselves a win away from promotion.

Chad Barrett took four for 22, while Neil Lederman, fresh from international duty at the Maccabiah Games in Israel during the week, also took two wickets during his 14 overs.

Kabir Toor claimed three for 22 and Robert Clements two for 16, before Hoddesdon were dismissed for 117 in 50 overs.

The modest total was quickly overcome for the loss of just one wicket. Fraser Crawford (27).

Toor, unbeaten on 41, and Tom Jenkins, 42 not out, remained unmoved though, as Radlett eased to within a match of a return to the top flight.

Fresh from moving within a win of promotion on Saturday, Radlett reached the Herts Cup Final with ease 24 hours later after superb centuries from Fraser Crawford and skipper Jono McLean laid the platform for a rout of Hemel Hempstead.

The opening partnership of Crawford and Kabir Toor didn’t last long, Toor falling leg before wicket for three. From there though, Crawford (182 not out) and McLean (124) demolished the Hemel bowlers as Radlett amassed 329 for four.

Hemel Hempstead’s run chase didn’t last long as they were bowled out for just 99.
Stuart Browne took four for 24 and Matt Creese six for 23 with both bowlers in unplayable form.

The dusty and uneven wicket may have been intended to level the playing field between miss-matched sides but it did Hemel no favours in reality.

Sawbridgeworth now stand between Radlett and a potential league and cup double.

West Herts managed to exact revenge for Chorleywood’s last-ball victory over them earlier in the season as they won by two wickets in another close encounter.

Wood batted first and were dismissed for a below-par 183 from the last ball of their 60 overs.

Only Ed Lye (32), Will Pendred (32) and Ryan Fleming (30) passed the 30-run mark as no Wood batsman was able to go on and make a really telling contribution.

Johnny Rice continued where he’d left off against Radlett the previous week as he picked up two early wickets with Alastair Lewis and Mehtab Jabbar both falling without troubling the scorers.

Craig Sanders added 48 and Matt Smith finished unbeaten on 49 but Rice caused more excitement as he picked up two more wickets late on to bring Wood back into the game, before the Stags eventually got over the line with eight wickets down.

Second-placed Hemel Hempstead failed to make up any ground on Radlett after going down to Sawbridgeworth by 58 runs.

Winning the toss, Hemel put Sawbridgeworth into bat and the visitors posted 175 for nine.

Brett Penny took three for 37 from 17 overs, recording six maidens in the process.

Penny enjoyed rather less success with the bat, going for a duck after just two balls. Josh Graves (41) and John Pearson (25) fared best with the bat for Hemel, who were all out for 121.