A much improved performance with both the bat and the ball saw Radlett gain the better of a closely fought draw with league leaders Slough.

Having being inserted by their hosts Radlett was immediately in trouble as the experiment of opening the batting with wicket keeper Trevor Woolf backfired.

Woolf was trapped LBW in front of his stumps by Sher for a duck. This brought skipper Matt Evans to the crease, he and Nick Fielden negated a tricky period and slowly began to bring momentum to the innings.

A solid 60 run partnership was eventually broken in bizarre circumstances as Fielden, celebrating his birthday, received an unwanted present of a blow to his groin area.

After a ten minute stoppage to receive treatment Fielden could no longer continue and retired hurt. Chaudry (18) and Evans (32) continued the good work until both perished just prior to the lunch interval. With the score at 98-3 at the break the game was evenly poised.

Following the resumption Slough captain Lane brought himself into the attack and he instantly posed problems by seaming the ball both ways.

It was one such delivery that accounted for Freedman as the young right hander saw his bails removed for 24. However the returning Fielden together with Houghton built an excellent 98 run stand. They did this by punishing some wayward bowling and positive running between the wickets.

Both players thoroughly deserved their half centuries but following their dismissals with Fielden reaching 51 and Houghton 54 an all too familiar collapse ensued. Radlett were ultimately dismissed for 226 in the final over of their allotted 66, with Lane returning the best figures for the hosts with 5-41.

In reply opening bowler Kervin Marc struck in his first over by having Khan caught by Chaudry at short leg. Shepherd followed shortly after, run out following good work by Freedman. This brought the prolific Perviez to the crease to join Lane.

Although looking like he could be dismissed with any of his first six balls, Perviez began to show the form that has seen him score over 300 league runs this season.

At 65 2 at tea, the game could still have gone either way. However Ian Oz' Edwards and Stuart Browne bowling in tandem for the first time in the match turned the game in Radlett's favour as Browne had Lane caught by Edwards and Perviez shortly followed after an exceptional stumping by Woolf.

When Shepherd junior fell to Edwards with the score on the ill-fated 111, there looked like only being one winner but superb batting by Bobby Sher gave Slough a chance of an unlikely victory.

This chance of success disappeared after Houghton bowled Sher and surprisingly Slough decided to settle for a draw even though news of title rivals High Wycombe's triumph over Henly had already filtered through. The home side finished their innings on 212-8.

Radlett 227-10 Slough 212-8

Home Counties Premier League

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Radlett's progress in the Evening Standard cup, a competition that they reached the last eight of in 2001, was halted at Bickly Park. A team without five first team regulars were narrowly beaten as their score of 139 was not enough despite Stuart Browne picking up two wickets in the first five overs and eventually finishing with figures of 10 overs 29. The one other bonus of the day was the bowling of Jim Chaudry. Chaudry, yet to bowl this season, showed that he could be a useful off spinner following a spell which produced many false shots and a wicket.

***

This week Radlett entertain Finchampstead, the current champions, in the HCPL and then travel to St Albans in the Becker Transport cup on Sunday. Radlett currently lying in eigth know a victory over their relegation threatened visitors could substantially move them up the table and see them push for a top half finish in the second round of matches.

June 19, 2002 14:00