Division Seven Flamstead 221-5 (50) London Colney II 117-10 (40.3) FLAMSTEAD recorded their third successive win as they saw off the challenge from hosts London Colney II on Saturday. Skipper Andy Taylor won the toss and chose to bat only to fall himself

Division Seven

Flamstead 221-5 (50) London Colney II 117-10 (40.3)

FLAMSTEAD recorded their third successive win as they saw off the challenge from hosts London Colney II on Saturday.

Skipper Andy Taylor won the toss and chose to bat only to fall himself as Flamstead stumbled to 18-2 off 12 overs. Trevor Ray, who finished with 3-53, claimed both openers.

An excellent stand of 73 between Matt Brown (40) and vice captain David Oswin rescued the Flamstead innings. Brown fell to Ray before the most important partnership of the innings between Oswin and James Clark. In just 16 overs, the young duo put on 104. Oswin hit 85 and Clark reached 58 for his first half century of the summer.

With 30 scored off the last four overs, thanks to Mark Ridley (13 not out and David Rogers (7 not out), skipper Taylor was able to declare on 221-5 off 50 overs.

Colney's reply was more or less a non-event after Trevor Ray was bowled for the innings top score of 27. Jack Smith, aged 15, removed John Gibbons who made 17 caught at slip by Tim Wilkinson and Jimmy Heatley removed the stubborn Ray.

Smith claimed his second wicket thanks to a fine catch from Rogers to dismiss Kevin Lawrence who hit 21.

Smith finished with three wickets and Heatley claimed two with Mark Ridley also taking two. Rogers returned to take the last three wickets to claim 3-14 off his 10.3 overs with Colney bowled out for 117.

Skipper Andy Taylor was delighted with the win which lifted Flamstead to ninth in the table. He said: "I was pleased with the performance as we never gave up especially in the field. Having not taken a wicket after 18 overs we did fantastically well to bowl them out in the next 22 overs. It was only the second time all season that two of our batsmen have scored 50s in the same innings."

Flamstead are expecting a tough match on Saturday as they go in search of a fourth successive win when they face Old Finchleians II at Friendless Lane.

Colney have to reflect that, but for the award of a match where Hexton fielded an ineligible player, they would almost certainly be in a relegation place. They go away to Flitwick II on Saturday.