Radlett underlined their status as the dominant force in the Watford Observer’s senior competition this decade by retaining the Shield with their third triumph in five years after comfortably beating Abbots Langley by seven wickets in the final.

In a repeat of last year’s showdown for the trophy, Abbots were always up against it after they had struggled to post a total of 103 for seven in their 14, eight-ball overs in Tuesday’s final at West Herts’ Park Avenue ground.

Apart from when Chris Chellew claimed two wickets in successive deliveries, the Cobden Hill outfit were rarely troubled in their reply and cantered to the win with more than three overs to spare to emulate Hemel Hempstead Town, West Herts and Chipperfield by becoming only the fourth club to successfully defend the Shield.

Abbots skipper Barry Warner had chosen to bat after winning the toss as his side set about trying to avenge the nine-wicket defeat they suffered in last year’s final. It initially looked to be a good decision as openers Scott Newman and Chellew scored 18 off the first over, helped by bowler Ben Lederman (nought for 18 off one over) conceding eight extras under the competition’s four runs for a wide ruling for the first 13 overs.

Radlett captain John Armitage immediately turned to the experience and control of Shane Burger to stop the opposition getting off to a strong start. It quickly became apparent this was a pitch for the spinners.

Burger and first change bowler Randeep Sanghera both conceded five runs off their opening overs before Burger struck at the start of the fourth, having Chellew (5) caught by Troy Barrett to leave Abbots 28 for one.

That was to be a wicket maiden for Burger and, very impressively for this format of the game, the South African repeated the trick off his next eight deliveries as he bowled former Surrey and Middlesex batsman Newman (22) to leave Langley on 43 for three at the end of the sixth over to finish with superb figures of two for five off three.

In between times, Sanghera had picked up the wicket of Matt Parkins (4) after conceding 15 off his second over. Crucially though, Radlett were to concede double figures off just two more overs they were to bowl.

Watford Observer:

Sam Bailey (7) did strike Abbots’ sole six of the match in the eighth over but boundaries continued to prove hard to come as the continued pressure applied by Daniel Foster (two for 23 off four) and Simeon Cohen (one for 37 off four) kept Radlett firmly in control.

At 81 for six with 16 balls remaining, there were doubts whether Abbots would pass 100. They did, but only just thanks to some late striking from Matt Dunstone (27) and John Battams (4), who found the boundary off the only delivery he faced.

It was no surprise Abbots opened with the spin pairing of Dunstone and Chellew as they sought the early wickets needed to give them hope of an unlikely win. They failed to materialise though, as Will iam Wright and Joe Cooke were to content to keep the scoreboard ticking over and take the boundaries when the opportunities presented themselves.

Man-of-the-match Cooke, in particular, was looking in fine touch as he struck Dunstone (nought for 33 off three) for the sole maximum of the innings to help his side to 46 without loss at the end of the fifth over.

Watford Observer:

But two deliveries later Radlett were 46 for two as Wright (15) was stumped by Jack Read before Chellew (two for 34 off four) put himself on a hat-trick by bowling Armitage for a first-ball duck.

Burger (23 not out) was to safely negotiate the hat-trick delivery and while Cook (43) was to fall short of his half-century after being run out off a deflected shot down the wicket, the holders suffered no further alarms as they successfully defended the trophy with comfort.