SHL Division Three London Colney 179 lost to Stevenage II 228-8 by 49 runs LONDON Colney travelled to Stevenage II hoping to continue their fine start to the season, knowing that a win and favourable results would put them top. Despite a slightly weake

SHL Division Three

London Colney 179 lost to Stevenage II 228-8 by 49 runs

LONDON Colney travelled to Stevenage II hoping to continue their fine start to the season, knowing that a win and favourable results would put them top.

Despite a slightly weakened side, not helped by the lure of the British Grand Prix, Colney were confident that another win could be achieved.

Stevenage won the toss and elected to bat, much to the delight of skipper Hadley who would have chose to chase had he the toss.

Paceman Andy Cole opened the attack and almost struck immediately when the dangerous Ganji edged the final ball of the first over, only to see the tough chance go to ground. It was not a costly let off as in his next over, Cole found an inside edge to see Ganji bowled without scoring.

Cole bowled with pace and control but was not supported from the other end as Colney saw what a quick scoring ground Stevenage can be as Hann and Whitworth made rapid progress for the home side.

Cole dislodged Whitworth but Hann continued to look untroubled, unleashing a string of cover drives and leg side deflections to reach 50.

The introduction of Anwardeen, who bowled an impressive 17-over spell, saw the run rate reduce as wickets fell at regular intervals. The re-introduction of the opening bowlers towards the end of the innings brought both runs and wickets, with Zaman trapping Hann lbw three short of his century and Cole recording figures of 3-65 from 17 before Stevenage closed on 228-8.

Having chased 240 twice this season Colney would have felt confident of reaching the target, but their chase got off to the worst possible start when Bristow was trapped lbw for 0.

This was followed by a promising 40-run partnership between Ray and Fretter.

Fretter's dismissal brought a small collapse, as Ray was unluckily run out when a dropped caught and bowled chance deflected onto the stumps at the non-strikers end. Skipper Hadley became the first of three victims in quick succession for left arm spinner Stewart, who ripped the heart out of the Colney innings with 3-21 from 11 overs.

At 89-7 Colney looked out of the game, but a partnership of 74 between Tony Holloway (64) and David Goff kept them interested, as the Stevenage skipper continued to offer scoring opportunities in an attempt to win the game.

The gamble paid off as Colney were finally all out for 179, although the disappointment of losing would have been lessened by a good haul of 14 points.

London Colney II entertained Southgate Adelaide II, looking to kick-start a season which had started promisingly but had seen no wins in six matches.

Batting first, Colney were led by youngster Joel Lambrick who continued the fine start to his debut season with a patient 38.

There were other contributions up the order from John Gibbons and Connor Dow, but none of Colney's top order were able to contribute big runs and it took some lusty hitting from lower order pair Andy Hurst (31) and Den Hadley (28no) to allow Colney to set a total that was anywhere near competitive, as they were dismissed for 157.

It was always going to be a tough target to defend and the Adelaide batsmen showed just how under par the total was, racing to victory in just 22 overs for the loss of a solitary wicket, taken by Simon Fretter.