Premier Division

Reigning champions Radlett stayed on course to retain their Herts Premier Division crown after a four-wicket win at Hertford on Saturday.

The hosts batted first and compiled 205 for five from 52 overs. Shane Burger was their tormenter in chief with two for 20, while Kabir Toor returned figures of two for 57, with Ben Lederman the other wicket taker.

Toor then top-scored with bat, hitting 52 before he was stumped, while fellow opener Fraser Crawford put on 41 before his stumps were removed.

Joe Cooke was their next highest scorer on 35, but it was unbeaten pair John Armitage, 15 not out, and Matt Creese, 11 not out, who brought home the victory in the 46th over.

Hemel Hempstead’s survival hopes are looking grim as they sit 76 points adrift at the foot of the table with six matches remaining.

Their latest defeat came despite winning the toss against Bishop’s Stortford. They elected to bat but the decision backfired badly as they were all back in the pavilion with just 111 between them.

Sam Jenkinson was the only man to put up any real resistance with 42 before he was caught by Matthew Rodgers off the bowling of Chad Barrett. Skipper Hamish llangaratne was their next highest scorer with 19.

Bishop’s were never troubled in their reply and opener Rodgers carried his bat for 54 as his team eased home in 26.1 overs for the loss of just two wickets.

Championship

Langleybury were cut down to size by leaders Totteridge, just seven days after they had upset the formbook with a 23-run win over second-placed Botany Bay.

They never came remotely close to repeating that feat this time around, though. Put into bat, after losing the toss, they were skittled all-out for just 93 in 31.2 overs.

Only Nahim Amin, with 18, made any inroads into the bowling attack. Totteridge, on the other hand, were never in trouble reaching 94 for two in 22.2 overs.

Ian Gurney had two caught and bowled victims among his three wickets as West Herts drew their match against Shenley Village. The visitors won the toss and restricted their opponents to 193 all out with Matthew Smith also claiming three victims for the loss of 45 runs.

Smith then top-scored with the bat, contributing 30, as West Herts finished on 164 for 8 from 44 overs.

Chorleywood boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with a thumping 125-run win at home to Flitwick – thanks in particular to a sensational hat-trick from Aussie pace bowler Ryan Evans.

Having been asked to bat first, Wood posted what looked like a below-par 181 for 9 from their 60 overs. Ed Lye top-scored with a stylish 38 and skipper Tom Smithson added 33, but with five batsmen only making single-figure scores, Wood’s total looked on the low side.

However, the game swung dramatically back in their favour early in Flitwick’s innings as Evans ripped through their top-order with four wickets, including a hat-trick to leave the visitors reeling.

Fellow opener Dave Bushnell picked up an impressive three for 16 before spinners Harry Brooks, with one for six, and Josh Ryan - who picked up two wickets without conceding a run in his 1.5 overs – mopped up the tail to hand Wood an impressive win.

Wood’s fixtures don’t get any easier though as they next travel to second in the table Hoddesdon – but this win will have put some confidence back in the side as they look to pick up more vital points.

Division One

A major tail wag rescued Kings Langley from almost certain defeat and gave them a victory which lifted them to third in the table.

Put into bat by Dunstable on a green and damp track Kings looked in big trouble when they were quickly reduced to 52 for four.

Despite solid knocks from Simon Walker (34) and Dan Donaldson (34), the recovery never really got off the ground and, at 139 for nine, Dunstable were clearly on top.

Then came a last wicket stand of 67 between Ben Joyce (54 not out ) and Christian James (29) which lifted Kings to the respectable total of 207, which for the first time in the match gave them a tangible opportunity of taking all 30 points.

Buoyed by the swing of momentum, Kings’ bowlers made light work of the Dunstable batting line-up, ripping through them for just 76.

Andrew Burnell led the attack with his first fifer of the season, finishing with figures of five for 33 from his 10 overs, before Dan Donaldson, with three for two, mopped up the tail to ensure a comprehensive 131 run victory.

Division Two A

Radlett Seconds dropped down to third in the table after drawing with Northchurch. Choosing to bowl first, Radlett restricted their opposition to 238 for nine from their 53 overs.

Neil Lederman with two for 50 and Robin Willis nought for 23, put the squeeze on early doors and the middle overs were controlled well by Michael Lee, one for 61 and Dan Foster with two for 52.

But it was Simeon Cohen, with three for 51, who was the pick of the bowlers in terms of wicket taking, while Hugh McDowell ran out the dangerous Northchurch captain and took three catches.

Radlett’s chase started well as Noah Liptschitz (41) and Neel Malde (22) put on 70 for the first wicket. Runs continued to come steadily as McDowell (21) continued alongside Graham Dill (37) to keep the chase on course.

Martin Jones (21) led Radlett to needing 68 runs from the last 10 overs but when Northchurch placed nine of their fielders on the boundary this made the chase very difficult for Michael Lee (35) and Troy Barrett (15) and Radlett batted out their overs still going for the win but finished 27 runs short.

Division Three A

Chippenden Clarendon enjoyed an 85-run win away at title-chasing North Enfield despite losing the toss and then predictably being inserted on a dry wicket.

And it looked as though the game was going to go the way of the toin coss when Alex Moore departed early.

But Shaun Jennings, who scored 54 from just 46 balls, led the recovery, while Richard Hudson played a captain’s innings for a fine 85 not out as Chipps closed on 222 for seven from 53 overs.

North Enfield came out with all guns blazing and sent Tom Sundive’s first delivery disappearing over the boundary for six, but this also led to chances being created and wickets fell at steady intervals.

Sundive recovered from being hit out of the ground with his first ball by taking three for 44, but for the second week running Gary Wise, with excellent figures of five for 25, ripped the heart from North Enfield’s’ batting order and, despite a couple of spilled chances, Chipps bowled their opponents out for 137 to take maximum points from the match.