The switch from 50/50 to timed matches made no difference to Harpenden as they made it six wins out of six at the top of the Herts Cricket League Premiership Division with a five-wicket triumph over Bishop’s Stortford.
The table-toppers’ decision to field paid off as they dismissed their hosts for 174 in 45 overs before reaching the target in 35.1 overs.
Although opener Adam Bassingthwaighte batted through the innings until he was the last man out for 74, he lacked prolonged support as Harpenden were on top after taking three wickets for three runs inside three overs to leave Stortford 70-4.
Three bowlers took three wickets apiece – Chad Barrett (3-31), Harry Seagrave (3-33) and captain Andrew Neal (3-38).
The skipper continued his all-round contribution with the bat as he made an unbeaten 73 to safely guide his side over the winning line.
Olly Batchelor was the next highest scorer with 41.
Radlett remain the leaders’ closest challengers after getting the better of West Herts by two wickets in a low-scoring affair at Cobden Hill.
Having chosen to field, the hosts would have felt confident after dismissing West Herts for 164 in 49.5 overs.
Although Radlett’s progress was delayed by a 64-run second-wicket partnership between Nafis Shaikh (36) and Cole Seggery (29), the screw was quickly turned as the visitors went from 67-2 to 87-7.
The Stags’ then battled back with a 72-run alliance for the eighth wicket between Sandesh Ramanayake (42) and Bill Gage (32) before the last three wickets fell for five runs.
Peter Hatzoglou took 4-56 while there were three wickets apiece for Koby Cornwell (3-24) and Kabir Toor (3-53).
Opener Archie Harrison (55) helped get the Radlett reply off to a solid start, but their nerves were jangling after falling from 87-2 to 127-7.
However, Shuhan Shovkar (24 not out) and Tomos Fielden (10) stabilised things by putting on 30 for the next wicket as the hosts got home.
Shenley Village had an even closer victory in the Championship, edging out Dunstable Town by one wicket thanks to some last-wicket heroics.
Paddy Dooley claimed 4-61 from 20 overs as Dunstable were restricted to 202-6 after choosing to bat.
Although captain Morgan Stanley scored 47 and Lathan Mahalingam (29) and Jake Hilder (30) also contributed, defeat looked on the cards when No. 10 Kris Nissen fell for 22.
However, Dooley (30 not out) and No. 11 Droo Pathak (15 not out) held their nerve superbly to get the 32 runs required to snatch the win.
A strong batting performance wasn’t enough for Redbourn as they fell to a six-wicket defeat at Hoddesdon.
Opener Ed Hales led the way with exactly 100 as the visitors made 262 all out, with Ethan Bury (40) and Adam Pritchard (31) making the next highest contributions.
However, Hales was outdone by fellow opener Rob Walters, who was the last man out for 144 as his side reached the target in 51.3 overs.
The visitors used eight bowlers in an effort to change their fortunes, with Corben Oriel (2-53) finally removing the opposition skipper.
St Albans suffered their first defeat of the season in Division One in a narrow five-run defeat at home to Leverstock Green.
Max Capaldi’s 3-24 and 2-49 from Adam Hounslow helped Saints bowl their opponents out for 219 in 49.2 overs.
The odds looked against the hosts when they were reduced to 117-6, only for Capaldi (75) and Simon White (23) to put on 70 for the next wicket.
The outcome might have been different had Capaldi remained in the middle, but when he was the eighth man out, 14 runs were needed off 11 deliveries. It ultimately proved five too many.
An unbeaten 69 from Z. Sialvi saw Wheathampstead to a six-wicket victory over Chorleywood Seconds in Division Three A.
Having been asked to field, the hosts had bowled out for Wood for 168 with wickets from C. Archer (3-26), M. Bryant (2-19) and B. Bruce-White (2-33).
London Colney made it back-to-back victories with a thrilling one-run win over Northchurch in Division Three B.
A superb 163-run opening partnership between Ricky Zeiderman (53) and Scott Hadley (106) set Colney up for their total of 263-6.
It was enough, but only just as Northchurch posted 262-7 in reply off their 50 overs.
Carl Frame was Colney’s most successful bowler with 3-41 while Matthew Bristow took 2-46.
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