Division Four A

Chorleywood Seconds remain at the top of the table following a three-wicket win at home to Northampton Exiles.

The Exiles won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision they regretted after being restricted to just 159 for nine from their 50 overs.

Harry Brooks was the pick of the Wood bowlers for the second week running as he finished with three for 20 from his ten overs, while there were two wickets each for Andrew Neal (two for 32), Will Bryant (two for 24) and Guy Manson-Bishop (two for 26) as the home side put up another good team performance.

In reply though, Wood struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals. Matt Rose stuck around as others departed to hit a valuable 68 to bring his side within sight of victory, which was eventually sealed in the 34th over as Brooks hit the winning boundary to give Wood their fourth win out of five and keep them just two points clear at the top of the table.

Northwood Town fell to a four-wicket defeat against Southgate Adelaide as their losing run this season continued.

Winning the toss, Town decided to bat first. Suvin Mekwan and Kyle Lawrence got them off to a flyer at 40 for one off four overs. After the loss of a couple more wickets, Lawrence (51) and Andrew Burt (40) played some glorious drives to help rebuild and get Town back on track.

The tail didn’t wag though, and Town only managed to bat just over half of their allotted overs to reach a disappointing 148 all out.

There was an instant turnaround and Town’s opening bowlers had half-an-hour to have a go before the tea break. Lawrence and Jack Daly used the new ball to great effect with both swinging the ball and causing the top order trouble.

Ten overs in, Town were easily on top with the home team struggling on 19 for five. But a mix of wayward bowling and good batting saw Southgate notch up runs very quickly, scuppering Northwood’s chance of a breakthrough win.

Bottom side Rickmansworth continued their poor start to the season in a nine-wicket defeat to Berkhamstead.

Micky Horwood (26) and Benn Glazier (15) put on 43 for the first wicket but that was the only highlight as the team collapsed to 133 all out.

Berkhamsted’s batsmen hardly broke sweat as they knocked off the required 134 in just 20 overs to seal an early win.

Division Five A

Watford Town Seconds easily defeated bottom-of-the-league Hitchin Seconds.

A huge win by 152 runs now leaves Town top of the table after they scored 350 for eight.

Zeeshan Ali’s massive return (135), combined with Gunjan Hazarika’s 92, put together a brilliant 227-run partnership. Sparsh Jain (21) and Muhammad Syed (22) also chipped in to increase their tally.

Hitchin started aggressively but regularly lost wickets and were eventually bowled out for 198 after 44 overs. Jain and Chirantan Hazarika both took three for 35 as Town romped to victory.

Hemel Hempstead Thirds fell to a 76-run defeat against West Herts Seconds.

Losing the toss proved costly as West Herts opted to bat and were in impressive form as they scored a total of 333 for five. Dan Woosley spearheaded their innings with 115. Aaron Wilson took two for 45 but it was a tough spell in the field for Hemel.

In reply, Suren Perera opened with 50 while there were decent contributions from John Clulow (37), Tom Waterton (41) and Andy Turbutt (43 not out). But Hemel fell short, finishing up on 257 for nine. Martin Richardson and Vinesh Gorasia both picked up three wickets for the victors.

Division Five B

Chipperfield Clarendon Seconds lost by 36 runs to Old Cholmeleians on Saturday.

Losing the toss and being asked to field, Cholmeleians were on 103 without loss after 21 overs. But Nigel Cousens (two for 25) stemmed the flow of runs, with Josh Gurney (three for 40) managing to restrict the opposition to 223 all out.

In reply, wickets fell early and at 29 for three it looked a long way to the target. Steve Durrant (61), Gurney (35 not out) and Jon Paddon, who was unlucky to be given out for 32, gave Chipperfield hope but they eventually fell short on 187 for seven.

Division Six A

Kings Langley Seconds beat Northwood Seconds by five wickets to remain unbeaten.

Duane Smith (two for seven), Scott Rolfe (two for 21) and Richard Whitlock (two for ten) were on form and limited Northwood to 143 all out.

Despite losing a few early wickets, Kings romped home with 15 overs to spare thanks to Andrew Colquhoun (60) and Matt Langston’s (18) fruitful partnership.

Division Six B

It was always going to be a difficult task for Abbots Langley Seconds, chasing Hexton’s impressive score of 301 for nine.

John Battams’ men lie just ahead of their opponents in the division, but succumbed for 97 in just 26.5 overs following Hexton’s impressive haul.

Aiden Byrne did his best to get the ball rolling for Abbots, but he was bowled for 24.

Division Seven A

Rickmansworth Seconds agonisingly lost out to Old Albanians Seconds.

The hosts were victorious by just five runs, having secured a total of 188 all out as they batted first. Brendan Lindsay kept their haul down, taking three wickets on his Seconds debut.

The visitors, who top the table, began their reply well via Naeem Khan (20) and Paul Blackwell (35). But from 101 for three they collapsed to 115 for seven.

But the tail-enders kept the result in doubt as Waheed Mahroof (23) established a platform for Billy Mohammed to take the game to Albanians.

Despite smashing three sixes on his way to 47, he could not help Rickmansworth score the required 189 as they narrowly lost.