SHL Division Three London Colney 102-5 beat Kings Langley II 100 by five wickets LONDON Colney II have had to wait a long time to add to their solitary win, on the opening day of the season, but were at last able to claim it on week 12, against bottom s

SHL Division Three

London Colney 102-5 beat Kings Langley II 100 by five wickets

LONDON Colney II have had to wait a long time to add to their solitary win, on the opening day of the season, but were at last able to claim it on week 12, against bottom side Kings Langley II.

With intermittent heavy showers all day on Friday, and the track only just starting to dry, wining the toss was vital, and Colney skipper Adam Stuart duly asked the home side to bat first.

He had read it right, and for the first 15 overs it was more or less unplayable, as the ball repeatedly reared off a length, in some cases going over the batsman's head from nearly half-volley length.

Trevor Ray claimed the first wicket in the second over with a ball that took the bat handle off a length for a catch in the gulley, and by the time the pitch started to lose some of its malice, after 10-15 overs, Kings Langley were already in deep trouble at 20-3. There was a hard struck 36 from G Henderson, batting at four, but once Colney brought on Andy Hurst to exploit the two-paced nature of the wicket by taking the pace off the ball, the rest of the Langley batting line up were unable to mount much resistance, apart from promising colt Toms, who made a stylish 17. In the end Trevor Ray claimed 5-39 and Andy Hurst 4-15 as Kings Langley II were bowled out for 100, in 31 overs.

In truth, Colney didn't bat terribly well in reply, but Connor Dow made a stylish 38, putting on 38 with John Gibbons (25) and 26 with Adam Stuart, and at 78-2, the job was largely done.

Colney managed to lose three more wickets, including Connor who ran himself out, but a series of confident and convincing shots from Ady Fisher finished the game as Colney ran out winners by five wickets.

Although they remain in the bottom three, they now have a real chance of reaching 250 points by the end of the season which will probably be enough to avoid relegation.