HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN'S seven-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt and untimely end as they were beaten by four wickets away at St Albans on Saturday, August 17.

Having won the toss, Hemel skipper Duncan Howard would have expected to post a far greater total than the 140 they managed, but a batting line-up, denied the services of the Wright brothers, and a lack of practice due to Mike Dale's sparkling form, failed to fire.

Dale, Hemel's outstanding batsman, made just 20 before he was caught and bowled by St Albans multi-talented Australian all-rounder Josh Holt with the score on 28, and then the remaining nine wickets mustered just 112 runs.

Only Giles Berry, batting at three, with a top-score of 30, and Jeremy Rich, with 27, showed anything like the necessary application.

In reply, St Albans progressed to 14 without loss until a sensational five-over spell saw them reduced to 14-5, which at that point saw the odds heavily stacked in Hemel's favour.

Pete Waterman was the chief destroyer, picking up a wicket in three consecutive overs, while Mark Beard added two scalps in successive overs as panic ripped through the St Albans' dressing room.

Calm was eventually restored by the experienced pair of Phil Caley and Simon White, who added a brisk, match-winning century partnership to wrestle back the advantage for Nick Gilbert's side.

White made the most of a dropped chance with the scoreboard on 30 which may well have changed the outcome of the match, to score 56, while Caley finished unbeaten on 62 to leave Hemel lamenting a missed opportunity.

"We didn't bat very well and the wicket wasn't great, but it was a bit better than a score of 140," admitted Howard. "We thought we had the game won at 14-5 and if we had caught White we would have gone on to win it, but we are still in a good position."

August 23, 2002 12:00