HEATH Paynter bagged six wickets as Radlett defeated strugglers Falkland in the Home Counties Premier League at Cobden Hill on Saturday. Three defeats in succession had left Radlett desperately needing a win

HCPL Division One

Falkland 102-10 (35) Radlett 105-1(17.5)

HEATH Paynter bagged six wickets as Radlett defeated strugglers Falkland in the Home Counties Premier League at Cobden Hill on Saturday.

Three defeats in succession had left Radlett desperately needing a win to keep their title hopes alive and visitors Falkland were battling for a miracle chance of survival.

Radlett skipper Shane Burger won the toss and asked Falkland to bat first before promptly clean bowling John Chandler in the first over of the day.

Burger struck again to remove the dangerous Ben Chapman thanks to a smart catch from Kabir Toor.

Khalid Zafar Malik (34) was clean bowled by the returning Gareth Berg while seamer Paynter began to get to work and mopped up six of the final seven batsmen. Falkland were all out for 102 off 35.3 overs and Paynter finished with amazing figures of 6-10 off 8.3 overs.

Radlett made short work of victory as Felix Walker (43 not out) and Tom Jenkins (44 not out) saw them home on 105-1 in just 17.5 overs.

The win leaves Radlett in fifth place and with a final match at fourth place Oxford next Saturday. A win would not only avenge the defeat on the final Saturday of last season, it would also give Radlett an outside chance of the title, but other results would have to go very much in Radlett's favour, not least of which would be near neighbours, Welwyn Garden City, upsetting the form book by crushing current leaders, High Wycombe. Radlett have already surpassed their previous highest points total in Division One, set in 2003. Falkland are now relegated from the top division.

Home Counties Premier League Top Five

High Wycombe pl 17 pts 271

Banbury pl 17 pts 266

Tring Park pl 17 pts 265

Oxford pl 17 pts 258

Radlett pl 17 pts 251

Final fixtures

Henley v Banbury

Oxford v Radlett

Tring Park v Reading

Welwyn Garden City v High Wycombe