Abbots and Kings draw Langley derby (From Watford Observer)

Abbots and Kings draw Langley derby

12:20pm Friday 10th August 2012 in Local Sport

Saracens Herts Cricket League

Division Two

Abbots Langley could only record a draw in a close-fought contest against local rivals Kings Langley on Saturday.

Kings opened the batting and posted an impressive 215 for five, with Kevin Rolfe top-scoring on 90. Mitch Roberts and Paul Ashford also impressed with 47 and 42 not out respectively.

Abbots struggled in reply and crumbled to 29 for three at one stage until they were rescued by a superb stand of 128 between Nick Laws (57) and Jake Read (62).

Once the stand was penetrated, they then lost six wickets for 37 runs but were able to hold on for the draw, eventually finishing on 195 for nine.

Kings Langley’s Mark Brazier was the pick of the bowlers by taking four for 45; this was closely followed by Andrew Burnell with figures of four for 49.

Leverstock Green fell to defeat away at Broxbourne after the home side posted an impressive 202 for seven.

Green looked to respond with the bat, but the two openers fell early. Alex King (30) and Steve Murphy (25) top-scored for the visitors but they couldn’t find their rhythm and crumbled to 125 all out.

Division Four

Langleybury Seconds picked up a vital victory against Ware to pick up valuable points in their pursuit of safety.

Winning the toss, Langleybury put their opponents into bat and performed wonderfully with the ball. Andrew Cheeseman particularly impressed, picking up figures of six wickets for 16 runs as Ware were limited to 67 all out.

Despite the early loss of the in-form Eddie Gunning for two, the Channer brothers, Lee and Ross, guided the hosts to victory with some neat batting. A six off the last ball gave Langleybury a winning total of 72 for four.

Northwood Town collapsed to a crushing defeat off the last ball of the game against Watton-at-Stone.

Raj Ahluwalia (44) and Akshay Loomba (34) opened the batting for Town in an aggressive manner. Scott Walker continued this mentality as he went on to score an unbeaten 72 with a strong supporting cast along the way, leaving Town on 222 for seven.

Watton come out strongly with the bat themselves as they pursued the large total required to win.

David Bushnell (two for 45) and Richard Doling (two for 34) made the main breakthroughs for Town, but a century from Sharma was enough to win the game for the hosts, who registered 223 for six.

Division Five

Watford Town Seconds completed a 51-run victory against Dunstable Seconds.

Dunstable won the toss and decided to bowl. A steady start saw Mo Manzoor reach 48 but he fell just short of his half-century.

The Dunstable spinners then took control but Ibby Hanif (28) offered some resistance as Town posted 142 all out.

Tight Watford bowling and great fielding kept Dunstable in check and the wickets began to tumble, with Naseer Ahmed taking four for 30.

Cookie Latif took two for 32 and Alan McQueen claimed two for 14 to dismiss Dunstable for a paltry 91.