Abbots Langley have progressed to a third Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield semi-final in four years after ending Watford Town A’s hopes by seven wickets yesterday.

Beaten finalists in 2014 and 2015, Abbots restricted their opponents to a run-a-ball total of 112-7 from their 14, eight-ball overs and chased it down with 15 deliveries to spare.

With the exception of opener Ubaid Shahid (24), no other Town batsman made it beyond 20 as Matt Parkins proved the most successful of the Abbots bowlers with 3-34 from his permitted four overs.

Nick Gurney (35) and Jack Bishop (19) got the Langley reply off to a strong start, putting on 65 for the first wicket. Although two more wickets then went down in quick succession, Simon Hamilton (31 not out) and Tiaan Joubert (11 not out) comfortably saw their side home.

Abbots will now face the winners of Aldenham School’s tie with Northchurch in the last four and if they get through that a familiar face could be waiting for them in the final.

Langley found Radlett too strong in both those final defeats and the Cobden Hill outfit have now advanced to their fourth straight semi-final, avenging their 2016 last-four exit at the hands of Leverstock Green A in the process.

Despite being set a sizeable total of 171-7 to chase, Radlett’s batting prowess shone through as they secured victory in 12.5 overs on Thursday of last week.

Opener Sol Tomlinson had led from the top for Green with 52 and he was well supported by Lewis Koch (34) and Nick Merrett (32) as their opponents were given plenty to think about.

But Radlett’s top four all fired in reply, with Kurilyn Mannikim (22) and Troy Barrett (32) putting on 61 for the first wicket and Kabir Toor (36) and Chris Gallagher (52 not out) continued the good work to secure victory.

Either Bushey or Kings Langley now stand in the way of Radlett and a final chance of winning the Shield for the third time in four years.

Revised semi-final draw (seeds in bold): Abbots Langley v Aldenham School or Northchurch (at Chipperfield Clarendon CC on Tuesday, June 20); Radlett v Bushey or Kings Langley (at Abbots Langley CC on Thursday, June 22).