Division Six A

Kings Langley Seconds eased to a six-wicket win over Redbourn Seconds.

Redbourn decided to have first use of a flat wicket and after a quick start were pegged back to 217 for seven.

Some tight bowling and excellent fielding helped Kings keep the runs down. Rob Clark and Ben Joyce helped themselves to two wickets each with Scott Rolfe, Matt Langston and David Burnell getting one apiece.

In reply, a first-wicket stand of 101 between father and son Kevin and Scott Rolfe built a solid base for the run chase. Rolfe senior hit a fine 74 with Scott scoring 47.

A couple of quick wickets slowed the runs down for a while before a partnership of 46 between David Burnell (38 not out) and Tom Clark (26 not out) saw Kings home comfortably with four overs to spare.

Northwood Seconds slipped to a 39-run defeat to Clifton.

Fielding first, Northwood had Clifton in trouble on 138 for six.

However their opponents recovered to post a respectable total of 222 for nine. Nigel Hussey fared best with three for 32 while Jahanzeb Rizvi picked up two for 49.

Northwood’s innings did not go to plan and a poor start left them struggling on 90 for six. Only Keith Watson, with 35, and Steve Hussey’s 30 provided resistance but the side were dismissed for 183 after 48 overs.

Division Six B

Abbots Langley Seconds fell to a 30-run defeat at the hands of St Margaretsbury Seconds.

And Abbots appeared to be on course for victory after dismissing their opponents for just 120. Excellent off-spin bowling from Lewis Hodgins (six for 20) and accurate seam bowling from George Agius, who took three wickets, put them in command.

But this was short-lived as some indifferent batting and their opponents’ medium pace bowling saw Abbots all out for just 90.

Division Seven A

Rickmansworth Seconds earned a fourth consecutive win at the start of a season for the first time in 30 years after beating Southgate Adelaide Seconds by one wicket.

Southgate posted 197, thanks in the main to two half-centuries among the top order and a batting track and outfield in fine nick.

Ricky’s reply was once again a team effort with Paul Blackwell (23), Kasser Abbas (25) and Riddleston (21) all supporting the dependable Kamran Shah (45).

Waheed Mahroof then judged the latter overs to perfection with 28 at a run a ball. However a late flurry of wickets meant Amit Pau and Brett Harvey were needed to score the six required for victory, which they did with just six balls to spare.

Division Eight B

Hemel Hempstead Town Fourths are bottom of the table after a nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of Letchworth Garden City Fourths.

Nick Benson was the only shining light with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 50 but Hemel were dismissed for a meagre total of 85 in 33 overs.

Letchworth wasted no time in chasing down the lowly total for the loss of one wicket in 19 overs to leave Hemel with plenty of room for improvement.

Division Nine A

Kings Langley Thirds were left to rue some careless batting as they fell to a five-wicket defeat a Greenwood Park.

Having been put in to bat, Sifan Naeem tried to hold the Kings innings together with his second 50 in a row but wickets fell regularly around him. Young Liberty Maher dug deep in the second half with 16 as they limped to 136 all out in the 43rd over.

Greenwood Park were made to work hard in the chase, falling to 42 for three. However, the side steadied the ship and reached the target with eight overs to spare.

Division Nine B

Abbots Langley Thirds were thrashed by nine wickets in their defeat to Leverstock Green Thirds.

The side struggled badly with the bat and they were dismissed for 88 in 32.1 overs. Jaxon Lloyd was their top scorer with 23 but no-one else made an impression.

This total was never likely to be enough and Leverstock eased their way to the win for the loss of just one wicket.