Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division One Radlett 223-10 (65.5) Welwyn Garden City 202-7 (54) GRAHAM Dill struck a classy 82 as Radlett played out an entertaining clash with Hertfordshire rivals Welwyn Garden City on Saturday at Cobden Hill.

Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division One

Radlett 223-10 (65.5) Welwyn Garden City 202-7 (54)

GRAHAM Dill struck a classy 82 as Radlett played out an entertaining clash with Hertfordshire rivals Welwyn Garden City on Saturday at Cobden Hill.

Radlett skipper Shane Burger won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like a track that might produce a bit of spin in the afternoon.

Graham Dill and James Lewis opened the innings and looked solid until Lewis edged a rising delivery to the wicket keeper on 4.

Dill was joined by Steve Lowe, who got into his stride straight away by hitting his first ball for four. The two of them took the score to 65 before Lowe was bowled for 28 by Aaron Laraman, the former ex Middlesex all-rounder.

Dill looked solid and carried on his innings with a 50 run partnership with Burger before the later was caught for 20. Radlett then struggled when Kabir Toor (11) fell to an unlucky run out and last week's star Felix Walker was out first ball he faced, leaving the score 147 for 5.

Tom Jenkins joined Dill to rebuild the innings but Dill was next to got a superb 82 when he nicked one to the wicket keeper. Dill's innings was a very mature one that made sure of Radlett posting a decent total. The score was taken to 207 before Jenkins was bowled by a fantastic yorker from the Welwyn overseas pro Tate.

The Radlett tale did not offer much resistance besides a quick fire 38 from left arm spinner Paul Barker who showed he was not only valuable with ball in hand. The innings ended on 223 when Robbie Crocker was caught in the final over of the innings.

It was going to be a tough chase for Welwyn and they set about it with relish as they reached 78 before the first wicket fell to a magnificent piece of fielding from Lewis who ran out Dan Blacktopp. Toor struck in his first over when he claimed the prized wicket of Jamie Hewitt.

Laraman joined Tate at the wicket to move the score to 160 before Tate was well caught in the slips by Burger from a Felix Walker delivery in the first over he was introduced. Tensions were starting to run high as Welwyn required another 64 runs in 13 over's with seven wickets in hand.

The impressive Barker shifted the momentum back to Radlett as he bowled with maturity beyond his years. The big wicket of Laraman however was taken by Robbie Crocker when he bowled in a pressure situation and tossed one up for Laraman to sky it. Barker picked up the wickets of White, Frazer and Southgate in quick succession and forced Welwyn to block out for the draw 22 runs short of the target.

Radlett achieved 12 points with Welwyn taking 11 and Radlett vice-captain Tom Jenkins hailed the entertainment value. He said: "What a good game of cricket, played in good spirit. The boys did well to defend the total and we were a bit worried at one stage when Tate and Laraman were going along nicely. Barker and Toor bowled really well and once again it was a good team effort."

Herts County Cup

Radlett 201-9 Stevenage 72-10

PAUL Barker picked up six wickets as Radlett progressed in the Herts County Cup with a comfortable win against Stevenage at Cobden Hill on Saturday.

Radlett batted first with Felix Walker top scoring on 45 and Shane Burger hitting 35. Atul Sachdeva contributed 26 not out and Mike Crocker (25) and John Barr (22) also batted well as Radlett reached 201-9.

In reply, Stevenage were dismissed for just 72 with Barker claiming 6-18 off 10 overs and Robbie Crocker taking 2-7 off six overs. Stuart Browne and Felix Walker each picked up one wicket as Radlett eased to victory.