Radlett take 13 points from draw with rivals Welwyn

HCPL Division One

Radlett 332-6

Welwyn GC 225-6

Match drawn

RADLETT enjoyed the better of their draw with Welwyn GC on Saturday but it was a result that did little to ease either side’s relegation fears.

Saturday’s stalemate means that at the halfway stage neither side has yet tasted victory in HCPL Division One this season and as a result the two Herts rivals occupy the bottom two spots in the league.

Welwyn won the toss and decided to insert Radlett making an early breakthrough when Nick Walker had Andre Sharma (2) trapped in front.

That was about as good as it got for the seamers though as Radlett saw off Welwyn’s opening attack of Walker and skipper Aaron Laraman fairly comfortably.

Having toiled away for little reward, Laraman turned to former Radlett spinner Paul Barker in a bid to reverse Welwyn’s fortunes.

It was a move that paid off as the left armer removed Tom Jenkins, caught and bowled for 32, and Lloyd Paternott, bowled for 34.

Kabir Toor and Shane Burger set about rebuilding the Radlett innings and after an early period of consolidation, they soon engineered themselves into a position to put the game beyond Welwyn’s reach.

Burger chalked up his first century of the season as he and Toor put on a mammoth 178 for the fourth wicket. The fine partnership eventually came to an end when Toor was given lbw to Chris Grant for 71.

Bruger and new partner Fraser Crawford pushed the home side past 300 but Burger fell 10 short of 150 when he was caught by Louis Champion off the bowling of Jamie Southgate, who then had Heath Paynter stumped by Simon Greenall for a duck.

Radlett closed their innings on an impressive 332-6, with Crawford (34*) and Shil Patel (8*) unbeaten.

The home side’s hopes of victory rested on early wickets but they failed to materialise as Jamie Hewitt and Champion weathered Radlett’s pace attack.

Just like the first innings, it was the introduction of spin that produced the breakthrough with Toor tempting Champion (39) to nick one behind to wicketkeeper Tom Jenkins.

Seb Schusman then got in on the act collecting the wickets of Herts county star Jamie Hewitt (60) and Matthew Hill (31).

Despite the dismissals of Southgate (37) and Nick Walker (27), courtesy of yet more spin from Toor and Rob Clements, the game petered out with neither side in a position to force the victory.

Wewlyn’s innings finally came to a close on 225-6 with Radlett taking 13 points to the visitors’ eight.

Radlett remain bottom of HCPL Division One, 21 points adrift of Bishop’s Stortford who they entertain this Saturday.