Division Two A

Kris Jadeja’s imperious 128 and 70 from Ajit Kumar – both in part compiled during a 156-run fourth-wicket stand – allowed Leverstock Green to set Watford Town an improbable task of chasing down 295 for five declared.

There was no respite for the Woodside club with the bat either, as Green seam duo Majid Khan (five for 28) and Adam Thomas (five for 44) shared the wickets evenly as Levy skittled out their hosts for just 76 to wrap up a 219-run victory which made it six wins from eight fixtures so far this summer.

Radlett Seconds remain top despite suffering their first defeat of the season after a four-wicket loss to Preston.

Winning the toss, captain Daniel Foster elected to try to put runs on the board but this proved hard. The pitch was by no means as good as it looked and all batters struggled to find some sort of rhythm at the crease. Hugh McDowell top-scored with 32 but Radlett were bowled out for just 118.

It was now down to the bowlers to see if they could rescue the game. Neil Lederman and Robin Willis were unlucky not to get a wicket each early on as both had chances dropped in the field. Foster brought himself onto bowl and made an immediate impact, claiming his first wicket with the second ball of his spell.

He continued to pressure the Preston batters and managed to take two wickets in two balls to turn the tide Radlett’s way as Preston slumped to 67 for five.

But the Radlett fielders then failed to take two more chances off Foster’s bowling and the game slipped away.

Simeon Cohen picked up a late wicket, along with Foster’s fourth of the game (four for 36), but it was not enough as Preston ran out winners.

Division Two B

Abbots Langley eased to a seven-wicket win over St Albans West Indian.

Their opponents were dismissed for 214 with Matt Dunstone taking five for 28 off 9.2 overs.

Abbots cruised to the total in just 27 overs for the loss of three wickets. Jack Read led the way with 67, ably supported by Scott Newman (56), Matt Parkins (45) and skipper Barry Warner (37 not out).

Bryan Davies’ five-for sent Hemel Hempstead Town Seconds to a 41-run win at home to Welwyn Garden City Seconds.

An uninspiring start saw openers Suren Perera (26) and Tom Elborn (7) quickly heading back to the pavilion after winning the toss.

But steadily Hemel grew into their innings and 42 from Tom Waterton was quickly built upon by an unbeaten 30 from Graham Clark and an additional 62 from Chris Blunt in a total of 234 for seven.

Welwyn opener Daniel Byford mustered 50 in reply but the spotlight soon fell on Davies (five for 38) and Rory Fraser (three for 42), who combined devastatingly to take apart the visitors’ line-up.

Edward Tucker (35) and Andy Skeggs (30) provided a brief, late flurry from the tail but Welwyn were all out for 193.

Division Four A

Rickmansworth recorded their first win of the season after a three-wicket victory against Northwood Town in a basement battle.

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Ricky made regular inroads into the Northwood batting through Mitch Rosam (three for 39) and Phil Riddleston (five for 55). The home team were eventually restricted to 205 all out off 46.3 overs.

Chasing that elusive first victory, Rickmansworth’s reply got off to a slow but solid start, reaching 56 for two after 20 overs. However partnerships of 72 between Rosam and Vish Rathi and then 55 between Rosam and Murtaza Shehabi saw Ricky edge close to the victory target.

When Aussie Rosam departed for 91 it sparked a mini-collapse – Ricky losing four wickets for 23 runs. But the late-order batsmen held their nerve and skipper Marty Janes fittingly hit the winning runs with three overs to spare.

Chorleywood Seconds suffered just their second loss of the season as they fell agonisingly short in their run chase, losing by seven runs to Southgate Adelaide.

Steve Dellavedova led the Wood attack as he picked up his best figures for the club to date with six for 35 from his 13 overs. Ray Collins chipped in with two for 24 as Adelaide were dismissed for just 156 in only 26.5 overs.

But Wood then found the going equally hard as they lost wickets at regular intervals to leave them more than 60 short of victory with only two wickets left standing.

But two more products of Wood’s colts system, Will Bryant (39) and Ed Rodgers (37), then showed the rest of the batsmen the way as they constructed a fine half-century stand to bring their side within sight of an unlikely win.

But both fell just short of the target as Adelaide produced one last flurry to seal the win by just seven runs as Chorleywood were dismissed for 149.

Division Four B

Langleybury Seconds eased to an eight-wicket win over Ampthill Seconds thanks to Peter Metcalfe’s unbeaten half-century.

Ampthill won the toss and elected to bat first, hitting two boundaries in an explosive first over which suggested Bury might have been up against it.

However, fine bowling from Andrew Cheeseman (two for 21) and Ollie Ilott (three for 22) helped apply the brakes.

Four wickets in as many overs went a long way to slowing Ampthill’s run-rate and they were suddenly faltering on 24 for four.

Eddie Gunning (one for 16) was effective during his 11-over stint and helped remove Ampthill for just 123.

Langleybury’s reply centred on Metcalfe (57 not out), who was joined by Andrew Maidmont (46) at the crease.

The pair put on 69 together before the latter was removed. Skipper Andy Felton then dovetailed with Metcalfe to see Bury home with eight wickets in the bank.

Restricting Hertford Thirds to just 160 all out laid the foundations for Leverstock Green Seconds’ seven-wicket win at Bedmond Road.

Lee Littlejohn prised out the visitors’ middle order with four for 41 with his off-spin, while a fiery opening spell from Sam Mazurek yielded three of the other Hertford wickets to fall.

In reply, David Coulshed’s patient 35 set the tone for a comfortable Levy victory, rounded off with gusto thanks to five sixes – including one to bring up his half-century and win the contest – from the bat of Sam Revell, who ended unbeaten on exactly 50.

Division Five A

Hemel Hempstead Town Thirds made light work of chasing down Flamstead to seal a comfortable six-wicket win on the road.

The hosts won the toss but were not allowed to settle into any kind of rhythm by Town, who had Liam Jahn (three for 26), Billy May (two for 22) and Anjam Khan (two for 23) on song.

Flamstead collapsed and the trio removed their hosts for just 160 to set up an attainable target for the chase.

And Hemel’s batsmen did just that; Aaron Wilson (30), Matt Dale (24) and Ram Hussain (31 not out) leading the way as the away side breezed to 164 for four to make the points safe.