Hemel Hempstead Town were relieved to come away with a draw from their Premier Division match against Hertford at Balls Park on Saturday.

The rain-affected contest saw the overs reduced to 39 and Hertford managed to score a decent total of 250 for three.

Opener Steve Gale struck 119 which steered the hosts towards a challenging target. Steve Reader took two for 54 while Brad Finch finished on one for 97.

Hemel were up against it due to the reduced overs and the team had to work hard to avoid defeat as they ended on 211 for eight.

Hemish Ilangaratne was run out for 27 while Jay O’Nien top-scored on 64. Josh Graves contributed 24 and Finch was on 46 not out which proved an important knock as Hemel battled to a draw.

West Herts held out to claim a draw from their Championship game against Totteridge Millhillians.

After winning the toss, the Stags opted to field first and Totteridge were dismissed for 176.

Matthew Smith was the pick of the bowlers, taking four for 41. Duncan Hodges returned figures of three for 23 and Simphiwe Yiba picked up two for 38.

West Herts struggled in reply and were probably relieved to avoid defeat as they survived on 154 for nine.

Alastair Lewis opened with 34 and Smith top-scored with 42. Avinash Mane finished unbeaten on 24 but the side had to work hard to rescue a draw.

Ashes winner Monty Panesar helped end Kings Langley’s winning run as unbeaten Division One side Luton Town and Indians extended their lead at the top of the table.

In the first round of the timed league matches, Kings chose to bowl after winning the toss but were left to rue dropped catches as Luton put together an imposing total.

Though Dan Donaldson picked up four wickets for 73, Luton still recorded 207 for six in the 40 overs the rain had limited the match to.

Kings had just 34 overs to chase the total but fell short as they were bowled out for 108 in 33 overs.

Panesar (three for 37) and Sachin Wagh (four for six) had too much experience on the drying wicket for Kings to handle.

Stuart Browne starred with the ball as Radlett Seconds extended their 100 per cent record in Division Two A after thrashing second-place Leverstock Green by eight wickets.

After Green’s steady start of 45 for one, Stuart Browne tore through the side to record an incredible eight for 16 from 12 overs. He claimed a hat-trick towards the end of the innings, removing the final three batsmen to leave the opposition on a mere 74 all out.

The other wickets were claimed by Neil Lederman and Michael Lee.

Radlett were never tested in the chase, as Josh Charles began the innings in positive fashion, hitting 18. Neel Malde and Martin Jones’ partnership then saw Radlett home as they both finished with unbeaten 30s to see the side finish on 78 for two.

Watford Town made sure they just about kept up with the pace set at the top of the table as they were also comfortable winners against Holtwhites Trinibis.

The seven-wicket win for Town began when they sent their opponents into bat on a damp wicket.

Janak Valand (three for 46), Cookie Latif (two for 43) and Taimur Abbas (three for 13) made sure the visitors never hit their stride and were dmissed for 141.

Skipper Ibby Hanif then scored 17 as Watford entered the crease but it was Ubaid Shahid (61) who got Town over the line as he hit nine boundaries.

A quick-fire 30 from Yogesh Pujari helped Town’s cause and they reached 142 after just 30 overs, losing only three wickets.

Abbots Langley earned a four-wicket win over Met Police Bushey to move top of the Division Two B table.

Met Police were bowled out for 258, with Daniel Roche the star of the show for Abbots. Roche, who was playing fourth team cricket five years ago, took career-best figures of six for 49 from 15 overs.

In reply, Matt Parkins was promoted to open with Scott Newman in the absence of Chris Chellew and he justified his elevation, smashing nine fours and three sixes in a quick-fire 66. He was fully supported by Newman, who made 57.

Met hit back with some quick wickets before skipper Barry Warner steadied the run chase with all-rounder Nick Gurney both scoring half-centuries to see Abbots home on 260 for six.

A 170-run partnership from Michael Foley and Normaan Ilyas helped Bushey pull off a memorable win as they beat Welwyn Garden City Seconds.

Sent into the crease by their opponents, Bushey got off to a flying start with Chandan Sharma (27) hitting four fours in one over.

But then the real damage was done, as Foley’s (108) ton and the unbeaten Ilyas (80 not out) added to a healthy total to reach 253 for two, on which they declared.

With plenty of overs to chase the target, Welwyn entered the innings in confident fashion as Daniel Byford struck 28. Oliver Bailey was one off a century (99) and Welwyn looked well on their way to victory, however the tide turned quickly.

Sharma’s inspired catch, diving away to his right, removed Bailey and Lakhmir Singh snared five wickets to finish on six for 29.

City finished on 227 all out as Bushey celebrated a well-earned victory.