SHL Division Three Redbourn 93 lost to Shenley Village 95-1, by nine wickets SHENLEY Village maintained their Division Three title bid with an emphatic nine-wicket win over visiting Redbourn whose own promotion hopes are now back in the balance following

SHL Division Three Redbourn 93 lost to Shenley Village 95-1, by nine wickets

SHENLEY Village maintained their Division Three title bid with an emphatic nine-wicket win over visiting Redbourn whose own promotion hopes are now back in the balance following the defeat.

Redbourn began the day on top of the table but now find themselves in fourth place after only taking one point from a possible 30.

Redbourn skipper Dan Roe won the toss and decided to bat first with luck seeming to run their way as opener Osman was dropped off the first ball of the game.

However, they found runs hard to come by as the Shenley bowling attack of Wendell Roberts and Jemile Al-Darraji kept them well contained.

Only two Redbourn batsmen made it to double figures with Roe battling it out for 53 balls before becoming Roberts' third victim and Steve Root who took the attack to Shenley and looked as if he may be able to dig Redbourn out of trouble before being caught on the boundary for 46.

Paceman Roberts took a hugely impressive 7-37 as the visitors were all out for 93.

Hameed ended with figures of 3-26, while Al-Darraji finished a tight and threatening 12-over spell without reward.

Redbourn knew that they needed to take early wickets to give themselves any chance of an unlikely victory and Ahmed Jamal obliged by removing opener Morgan Stanley in the first over, well caught by Simon Osman at short cover.

This was to be Redbourn's only success as Shenley knocked off the required runs in just 17 overs.

Charlie Thurston looked assured at the crease for his 28, while Rob Laney provided an entertaining cameo as he hit a brisk 46 containing four boundaries and three sixes.

This was a disappointing performance all round from Redbourn and the players must now pick themselves up for the visit of Chipperfield Clarendon on Saturday.

The win moves Shenley up into third spot, with things looking increasingly tight at the top.

Redbourn drop to fourth, but with just two matches left to play, a mere eight points separate the top four.

Shenley continue their campaign on Saturday with a trip to sixth-placed Abbots Langley.