CHIPPERFIELD remain on top of Division Two after enjoying the better of a draw with fellow promotion chasers Radlett second XI on Saturday, August 17.

Batting first, Nick Crumpton (30) and Justin King got Chipps off to a solid start, but it fell to Ian McNicol to score the bulk of the runs, and he finished unbeaten on 77.

McNicol lacked support in the middle order, until Mick Garrini (39) came to the crease, and together they helped their side to a total of 184-6.

Once Radlett opener Jackson (38) had been dimissed, Chipps were always on top, but they were unable to find the two extra wickets they needed to score what would have been a vital victory in the promotion picture.

Only Smithers (31) and Clark (21) managed scores above 20 in the total of 180-6, while Simon Smith was the pick of the attack, with 4-30.

Just six points adrift of Chipperfield are Abbots Langley, who, after the previous week's wash-out, stormed back into the promotion race with a comprehensive win over Preston.

Electing to bat first, Preston shot to 39-0 off only eight overs, but a change of ends for Craig Sanders and Phil Hobbs changed the game.

Abbots, without Robin Sutcliffe, Dave Carlisle and wicket-keeper Craig Smith, didn't help themselves with five dropped catches, but Hobbs, bowling tightly and unchanged for 24 overs in sweltering heat, took 3-56, and Matt Dunstone (4-19 in ten) kept Preston to a modest 157 on a perfect batting track.

In reply, Des Taylor (32) and Mark Bishop put on 41 for the first wicket off only nine overs, and set up the game for Abbots.

Although the prolific Nick Hodgins (10) failed, Aussie Sanders, with a superb 42 not out, and a return to form for Barry Warner (39 not out) saw Abbots to an easy win.

Another excellent bowling display from off-spinner Raj Latchman fired Northwood to a 47-run victory at Hatfield to sustain their hopes of a top-half finish to the season.

Steve Hussey (30) and Ranjit Latchman (20) got Northwood off to a reasonable start, but the cornerstone of the innings was a more than useful 46 from Brett Islip.

Keith Watson then weighed in with 23 as Northwood were dismissed for 182.

Hatfield's reply had reached 16 before opener Bond became the first of Raj Latchman's seven victims.

Wickets two and three soon followed to leave Hatfield in trouble at 33-4, before a partial middle order recovery lifted the score up to 68 without further loss.

At 78-6, Northwood had again taken control, but their hopes of victory were delayed by the intervention of Golder, who struck 38.

However, after he had departed, Raj Latchman went on to complete his fine figures of 7-62 off 19.3 overs, as his side wrapped up their seventh win of the season.

Elsewhere, Kings Langley put further distance between themslves and the drop zone after they picked up a surprise, and much-needed, win away at high-flying Knebworth Park second XI.

Langley's first win since July 6, and only their second success of the season, came after they restricted the home side to 207-9, with Andrew Colquhoun and Tony Morton both picking up three wickets, and Dave Houghton claiming 2-18.

Langley batted brilliantly in reply, timing their chase to perfection thans to a superb unbeaten century from Kevin Rofle.

The tall right-hander continued his fine run of form with a stunning 110 not out, and shared in an unbroken century stand with Houghton (46 not out) that guided Langley home to a famous win wth two overs to spare.

August 23, 2002 12:00