Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League

Division Two East

Champions Radlett clinched a 117-run victory over visitors Hemel Hempstead as captain Jonathon McLean hit an impressive 74.

Batting first, McLean’s innings included 11 fours and helped the home side to 241 all out with Duncan Howard the pick of the Hemel bowlers as he returned figures of three for 29.

The away side’s response was regularly disrupted by the loss of wickets, although opener Brett Penny scored 48. Robert Clements bowled a devastating spell of six for 23 from seven overs to dismiss Hemel for 124.

Chorleywood were handed 25 points in their relegation fight after Knebworth Park conceded their match due to having insufficient players registered with the Home Counties League.

Wood now sit just one point above the relegation zone before their final game of the season at Hemel tomorrow (Saturday).

Wood skipper Tom Smithson said: “I’ve never been in this position before of having our opponents concede in this way.

“Obviously we are pleased to get the points, but we would all rather have played the game – it’s a long close-season ahead without any cricket and I certainly want to play as many games as possible rather than have an afternoon off.

“But we now need to look ahead and concentrate on getting maximum points at Hemel to make sure that we are still in this league next season.”