Shenley dropped 15 vital league points on Saturday when the side, weakened by the absence of key players, was unable to bowl out lowly Bayford.

The match ended in a tame draw when the home side decided not to chase the total set by the Villagers.

After winning the toss for only the fourth time this year, Shenley captain Matt Woodward decided to have first use of a pitch that looked like it would be good for plenty of runs.

Shenley lost their first wicket with 15 on the board when Andy Lewis was unlucky to be adjudged lbw to a ball that certainly looked as if it would miss leg-stump.

Jemile Al-Darraji came to join Chris McDonald in the middle and the two of them started to rapidly increase the Villagers' total. After seven overs 41 runs were posted and Shenley were starting to think in terms of a huge total.

However, the home side had other ideas, and started to bowl a much more controlled line and length, and it took the second-wicket pair another 17 overs to double the score.

By this point McDonald had posted his 50, but both he and Al-Darraji were struggling to up the tempo, and had survived a total of five chances due to poor catching by the fielding side.

Their partnership was finally broken in the 33rd over when Al-Darraji was caught off the bowling of Morris. From this point on Shenley were up against the clock, as they needed to greatly increase the run rate, having only got to 121.

Steve Scott was out just five runs later, attempting to charge the slow bowling of Samulac. From then on the Shenley innings deteriorated into a succession of short partnerships, as new batsmen came and went trying to score quickly.

McDonald was fifth man out just six runs short of his century, the second time he has been dismissed in the 90s at Bayford. The only other players to get into double figures were Woodward and Ed Lillywhite.

Shenley ended up just three runs short of maximum batting points after their 53 overs.

The home side started brightly, playing some aggressive shots, but Al-Darraji and Lillywhite were bowling a tight line and secured the first breakthrough when Al-Darraji caught and bowled Morris with the score on 18.

The second wicket was a long time coming. It came when Scott replaced Lillywhite, and was immediately successful, having Bayford captain Mark Spalding caught by Woodward at cover for 42.

Woodward claimed a wicket in the very next over when Warren Seeley held a good catch at mid-wicket. The fourth wicket pair of Hogg and Samulac consolidated and lasted until Al-Darraji came back for a second spell and sent them both back in quick succession.

However, by this point the home side had abandoned any attempt at run scoring, and were playing for a draw. Two more wickets fell, one to McDonald and one to Al-Darraji, who finished with 4-40.

The end came when Bayford crept to 136-7, leaving Shenley agonisingly close to their tenth win of the campaign.

SHENLEY VILLAGE: Matt Woodward (Capt), Andy Lewis, Zak Iqbal, Warren Seeley, Jemile Al-Darraji, Chris McDonald, Steve Scott, Mark Perkins (wk), St John Fuller, Ed Lillywhite, Arthur Jenkins.

Shenley Village 197-9

Bayford & Hertford II 136-7

Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Eight

August 21, 2002 14:30