SHL Division Three London Colney 129-9 lost to Hemel Hempstead II 130-4 by six wickets AFTER slipping out of the top four last week, London Colney had to win to keep alive their chance of promotion, and had the daunting task of entertaining divisional lea

SHL Division Three

London Colney 129-9 lost to Hemel Hempstead II 130-4 by six wickets

AFTER slipping out of the top four last week, London Colney had to win to keep alive their chance of promotion, and had the daunting task of entertaining divisional leaders Hemel Hempstead II.

In the event, the leaders only emphasised their dominance of the division this year, as Colney were well beaten in a largely one-sided affair at Green Street.

After the visitors won the toss and, full of confidence, asked Colney to bat, pretty much nothing went right for the home side.

Both openers fell cheaply, and then three wickets for five runs saw them slip to 43-5 off more than 25 overs. Tony Holloway (27) and David Goff (35) dug in and posted a 58-run stand for the sixth wicket but, when they were separated, the tail wasn't able to add much.

For Hemel Hempstead II, Collman took 4-39 and there were two wickets apiece for Mackie and Petchell, and it was a measure of how much in control Hemel's bowlers were that, despite not being all out, Colney were only able to reach 129-9 from 53 overs at a run-rate of not much more than two an over.

With such a low score, on an excellent batting wicket, it was never really a contest, especially after openers Waterton (30) and Weston (38) took Hemel Hempstead II halfway home with the opening partnership.

After he was brought on at second change, Goff salvaged some personal respectability from the wreckage, following his top score with the bat by taking all four Hemel wickets that fell in a spell of 4-36, but Hemel cruised home with a quarter of the match to spare.

Colney still have an outside chance of promotion, but realistically now have to win both their remaining games and hope others slip up.