Premier Division

Defending champions Radlett did not have to be at their best to overcome Hemel Hempstead Town in a 103-run victory on Saturday.

Radlett, who were put in to bat, put up more than 300 the previous week against North Mymms but were unable to replicate that form.

They still proved dangerous though, with Fraser Crawford (34) and Kabir Toor (44) putting on 83 for the first wicket. Shane Burger then posted an unbeaten 70 as Radlett menacingly clicked into gear.

Parth Metha took two for 28 for Hemel – who restricted their visitors to 231 for eight – but he was the only home bowler to really have any joy against the Radlett batsmen.

And the home side were left ruing their own batting display as they were skittled out in 30 overs.

Sam Jenkinson top-scored with 32 before being trapped leg before wicket and although Brad Finch (24) and Steve Reader (20) chipped in, Hemel were all out for just 128.

Burger was the Radlett protagonist, taking three for 22, whilst Matt Crease snared two wickets for 11 runs in his four-over spell.

Championship

Langleybury failed to build on victory a week earlier as they were crushed by eight wickets at home to Botany Bay.

Electing to bat, first the home side never mustered any rhythm at the crease and after opener Mohammed Manzoor (27) was run out, only three more batsmen even made it to double figures in a woefully low score of 96.

Unsurprisingly, it did not take Botany Bay long to chase down that total; Ben Howegeo (51) and Kasey Harris (27) laid on the key runs for the visitors who reached 98 with eight wickets in hand.

Chorleywood just failed to pull off a victory at home to Totteridge Millhillians as they went down by an agonising seven runs.

Totteridge chose to bat first and got off to a flying start as they reached 85 for one by the tenth over, tearing into the Woods bowlers.

Despite a few flurries from the visitors, Wood kept picking up wickets at regular intervals and stopped Totteridge from building any major partnerships from then on.

Dave Bushnell picked up three wickets in the later overs whilst there was two apiece for Ryan Evans and Josh Ryan as Totteridge were bowled out for 252.

Wood’s reply was led by opener Scott Aspinall, who tucked into the Totteridge attack from the start and raced on to a magnificent century despite only three of his colleagues reaching double figures.

However, once Aspinall fell for 120 Wood dramatically collapsed as nobody from number five onwards managed to score more than five runs.

As the pressure built, Wood crumbled and were eventually bowled out with just two balls of the game remaining and still needing eight to win.

Division Two A

Radlett Seconds made it two wins from two as a stringent bowling performance laid the platform of their four-wicket win against Ickleford.

Losing the toss, Radlett were put into the field and they struggled in the opening overs as the home side raced to 46 for one.

Captain Dan Foster and the returning Stuart Browne put the squeeze on with two wickets each and they managed to stem the flow of runs considerably.

Troy Barrett was then introduced and he took four wickets on his way to four for 34 and Radlett were able to halt their opponents on 150.

With the bat, Radlett’s opening pair of Graham Dill and Yasir Mughal put on 52 before both lost their wickets in the same over.

Radlett had a couple of wobbles, losing three players before they reached double figures, but Jonny Armitage’s 41 and 42 not out from Hugh McDowell saw Radlett to a comfortable win.

Northwood had Stuart Reeve’s four for 30 to thank for their 63-run victory over Watford Town.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Northwood made a bright start through Richard Murphy (46) and Simon Noach (34) but soon began to struggle.

Ahtsham Hussain took three for 30 and Ravi Panchal claimed three for 36 in helping restrict the home team to 183 all out.

But Watford were well off the pace in their reply and Panchal’s 24 was the highlight in a disappointing total of 120, which came to an end after 35.1 overs as Reeve excelled with the ball.

Division One

Kings Langley’s promising early-season form came to a crashing end on Saturday as a poor batting display resulted in a heavy seven-wicket defeat against Hitchin.

Kings opted to bat first after winning the toss but that proved the wrong choice. Hitchin’s bowlers, aided by some lateral movement in the pitch and very average shot selection, ripped through the top order leaving the hosts in serious trouble on 17 for five.

It was a position they didn’t recover from. Dan Donaldson showed some resistance with 28 but the home side were skittled for just 103.

Unfortunately for Kings they didn’t fare any better in the field and, despite taking a early couple of wickets, they couldn’t put Hitchin under any pressure and the visitors coasted home with seven wickets to spare.

Division Two B

Hemel Hempstead Seconds were unable to build on their opening-day win as they lost by five wickets at Eversholt.

Opting to bat first, Hemel made a sticky start and quickly lost openers Graham Clark (0) and Tom Elborn (5).

Neil Morgan made 24 but it was not until the tail that Hemel finally started to put some runs on the board.

Bryan Davies (24) and Duncan Howard (25) offered some resistance but Hemel were soon removed for 129.

Ben Nicholls (29) got the Eversholt reply off to a reasonable start before Jake Nicholls (51) provided the key knock for the hosts.

Charlie Hoskins took two for nine for the visitors but they were unable to prevent Eversholt getting to the required 130 with five wickets in hand.