Kings Langley stand between Radlett and a final chance of winning the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield for the third time in four years when they meet in the semi-finals next Thursday.
The champions of 2014 and 2015 had already booked a place in the last four for the fourth consecutive year with a six-wicket win over Leverstock Green A. And they will now face Kings in next week’s second semi-final after opponents Bushey were emphatically beaten by 99 runs on Tuesday.
A top score of 66 from Harry Sambrook enabled Kings to post 165-5 from their allocation of 14, eight-ball overs. In reply, Bushey were skittled for 66 with Mark Brazier their primary tormentor, taking a superb 5-14.
That semi-final takes place at Abbots Langley but before then attention will be on Chipperfield Clarendon’s ground on Tuesday evening when Abbots face Northchurch in the first last-four game.
Abbots, who were beaten by Radlett in the 2014 and 2015 finals, had secured their place with a seven-wicket win over Watford Town A. And Northchurch ensured they did not go the same way as West Herts by beating Aldenham School by a six-wicket margin on Thursday of last week.
The school side, who had stunned the holders in the previous round, were restricted to 118-7 after Tom Garraway (3-22) and Lee Johnson (3-27) had taken the bulk of the wickets.
Opener Stephen Meager made 26 and Garraway added 24 as Northchurch reached the target with six balls to spare.
Both semi-finals are due to start at 6.15pm and spectators are welcome.
Shield semi-finals (seeds in bold): Abbots Langley v Northchurch (Tuesday at Chipperfield Clarendon); Radlett v Kings Langley (Thursday at Abbots Langley).
Three of the four semi-finalists in the Plate have also been decided, with one team advancing after a remarkable stand between two brothers.
After Aldenham had lost a wicket in the opening over of their quarter-final against Leverstock Green B, Charlie and Chris Munroe came together in the middle and proceeded to produce a stunning 192-run alliance.
Chris finished two runs shy of a century on 98 not out, while his brother made an unbeaten 70 to guide their side to a formidable 201-1 off their 14 overs.
Green kept losing wickets in reply, but 49 from Tom Callingham helped see them to 167-7 after Charlie Munroe had taken 3-31 and Mike Ward 2-34.
Aldenham’s reward for their victory is a semi-final against Langleybury A on Thursday, June 29 after West Herts’ playing involvement with Watford Observer cricket competitions came to a disappointing end for this year.
The 2016 Shield champions made 136-6 in last Friday’s tie, but their hopes of a consolation prize were ended as Bury reached the target for the loss of five wickets.
In the top half of the draw, Watford Town B ended Watford Grammar School for Boys’ bid to win the trophy for a fourth time in six years on Wednesday.
A low-scoring quarter-final saw Town successfully defend a total of 123-6 as they restricted their opponents to 115-2 in response to secure an eight-run victory.
Watford now await the winners of this evening’s final first round game between Met Police Bushey and Rickmansworth School Staff.
Plate semi-finals: Watford Town B v Met Police Bushey or Rickmansworth School Staff (Monday, June 26 at Leverstock Green); Aldenham v Langleybury A (Thursday, June 29 at Chipperfield Clarendon).
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