RADLETT returned to the top of the Home Counties Premier League Division One with an emphatic six-wicket win over local rivals Beaconsfield at Cobden Hill on Saturday, June 7, to maintain their flying start to the season.

Unbeaten in five, Radlett – even without captain Dave Houghton – were always in control and their bowlers had far too much in their lockers for the bewildered Beaconsfield batting order.

Stand-in skipper Nick Fielden won the toss, inserting the visitors, and a flurry of rash strokes saw the Bucks side reeling on 30-4, and, although there was a little moisture in the wicket, the lamentable score-line was more a reflection on some injudicious shots than of a poor wicket. This fact was borne out by a courageous innings by Danson who, while wickets were tumbling from one end, continued to bat patiently, and, during the passage of play up to lunch, rarely looked in trouble.

The early wickets were shared equally between the opening bowling attack of Kervin Marc and Stuart Browne. Marc bowled with pace and aggression and his removal of Martin O’Reilly was a classic piece of fast bowling.

The first delivery O’Reilly received was a short bouncer that whistled passed his face. Marc followed this up with by a ball of fuller length that took the outside edge and was expertly taken in the slips by Oz Edwards to leave Beaconsfield struggling badly at 83-5 at lunch.

Following the break, Browne picked up his fourth and fifth wicket of the innings, including the all important one of Danson for 58 following smart glovework by keeper Hanson.

Bradshaw and Dolphin kept Radlett out for a time with steady knocks of 24 and 25 not out respectively but, after Bradshaw was needlessly run out the wickets continued to tumble, until Graham Dill, claiming his third catch, brought Beaconsfield’s innings to a close with the score on 160. Browne was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 6-51 from 27 overs.

In reply, Radlett got off to an apprehensive start with Sarfraz and Denzil Owen moving the ball both ways off the seam to good effect. Nick Hampton was caught by Dolphin at second slip for one and Fielden caught by Cater after being lured into his favourite hook shot for ten.

However, Dill, continuing his excellent early season form, and Matt Evans steadied the ship until the tea interval with some belligerent shots and excellent running between the wickets. At tea, Radlett were within touching distance of their second victory in four games and required just 78 runs to win.

Following tea, the reintroduction of Sarfraz appeared to galvanise Beaconsfield who were not about to give the game up without a fight. Sarfraz removed Dill, lbw for 36, and then followed this up by bowling Tony Pickett for 11.

He should have then removed Haydn Smith for a second ball duck but a sharp chance at slip was put down which turned out to be a costly error. Smith seized on his opportunity and proceeded to impose his authority on the quick bowler with a flood of exquisite cover drives.

With Evans playing the anchor role and never looking in danger of losing his wicket, the game was soon up for Beaconsfield. Although Evans failed to hit the winning runs for a boundary that would have secured a deserved half-century, his knock of 48, after a couple of weeks away on exam leave, was a welcome boost for the side. Smith concluded on 33 as Radlett chalked up a comfortable six-wicket victory with 12 overs to spare.

Radlett travel to unbeaten Reading tomorrow (Saturday).

Although struggling Hemel Hempstead suffered a third loss of the season by five wickets at High Wycombe, some hope could be salvaged out of the defeat.

Not only were the newly-promoted Heath Park side away at the defending champions, Hemel also went into the game without Duncan Howard, Pete W Waterman and Mark Beard, three of their frontline bowlers. Had they been involved, the outcome might have been different, particularly if Hemel had managed to put a few more runs on the board.

The visitors must have feared the worst when openers Hemish Ilangaratne and Giles Berry were sent back to the pavilion with only one run on the board, but Neil Morgan (57) and Martin Wright (65) then tried to launch a rescue act.

The pair put on 131 for the third wicket, before Wycombe responded by taking three scalps without a run being added. Bowlers Cole (4-46) and Taylor (3-25) claimed the majority of the victims in Hemel's total of 191-9.

In reply, Paul Harrington (2-65) removed Taylor early on, but the home side, who claimed the spoils with an over to spare, effectively made the game safe with a 98-run second-wicket stand between Eyles (52) and Harrison (48).