Division Four Redbourn 171-10 (50.1) *Hatfield Hyde 71-10 (20.3) REDOURN made it four wins on the bounce as they beat third placed Hatfield Hyde on Saturday to top Division Four. Skipper Dan Roe lost the toss again and was asked by his opposite number

Division Four

Redbourn 171-10 (50.1) *Hatfield Hyde 71-10 (20.3)

REDOURN made it four wins on the bounce as they beat third placed Hatfield Hyde on Saturday to top Division Four.

Skipper Dan Roe lost the toss again and was asked by his opposite number to bat first. Openers Simon Osman and Chris Yorath took on the uneven bounce to add 33 runs for the opening wicket, before Yorath played a ball onto his stumps.

Osman endured a couple of body blows and was getting into his stride, when partner Dan Roe was caught at gully. Still with the wicket playing as it was Roe was relatively content with the start that his side had made.

The mood changed when Osman went for a fine 30 and Redbourn collapsed to 100-7. The revival started when Gary Sandford mixed patience with some fine shots and his partnership with Jamal Ahmed began to flourish. Jamal lived up to his 'booming' reputation with two enormous sixes and three fours. When Jamal was caught for 40, the pair had added an invaluable 64 runs for the eighth wicket. Sandford soon followed for a well made 28, but his innings had seen Redbourn through to an extremely competitive total of 174 all out.

Any doubts about the total were soon dispelled, as Hyde were unable to master the tough batting conditions.

Jon Fleming and Jamal Ahmed were unplayable as they tore into Hyde's batting line up. Fleming bowled good line and length and with the ball either rearing up at the batsman or staying low, all his victims were either bowled or LBW. Jamal's pace was proving decisive at the other end, although Redbourn did enjoy one moment of good fortune when the batsman edged the ball onto wicketkeeper Gary Sandford's forehead, only to see it rebound to Jamal for a caught and bowled.

Redbourn struck again when Yorath dived at second slip to hold a catch inches from the ground off the bowling of Jamal, who ended with excellent figures of 4 for 40 while Fleming's 6 for 24 off 10 overs had demolished Hyde's innings as they reached 58 for 9. The match was all but over, although a quick 20 from Hyde's number 10 saw them to 71 all out. Redbourn took the win by the convincing margin of 103 runs. Roe's side travel to Bushey on Saturday for a 1.30pm start.

Redbourn II picked up 18 points as they had the better of a draw against Eversholt II in Division Seven.

Redbourn batted first and started well with a steady 31 from opener Toby Ascroft and a blistering 21 from Matt Cramer. Bowlers Page and McDuell took two wickets each and suddenly Redbourn were in trouble at 89 for 5. The innings was saved by an outstanding 86 run partnership from Jamie Doherty (59) and Faiz Ahmed. Michael Dobson upped the run rate with a quick 23 and with skipper Antony Mauder aware that Eversholt had scored 261 batting second two weeks ago allowed the batsmen to continue on for a big score. With Ahmed on 76 not out Redbourn declared at 249 for 8 off 52 overs.

Tight bowling and wickets for openers Michael Dobson (1 for 20) and Martin Benfield (2 for 35 off 13 overs) pushed victory out of sight for Eversholt.

Mauder enticed Eversholt to go for runs in an attempt to take wickets by setting attacking field placings for spinner Matt Lloyd and fast bowler Faiz Ahmed. The tactic worked as they took two wickets each reducing Eversholt to 132 for 7.

Mauder bowled himself to keep things interesting, taking a wicket but Eversholt's experienced duo Garnitt and Page at 9 and 10 dug in to hold out for the draw with the score at 186 for 8 off 48 overs.

Redbourn III made it three wins out three with victory over Wormley Thirds in Division 13.

Redbourn made a good start batting first with 25 on his debut from opener Richard Blair. The match could have gone either way at 49 for 3 but a terrific 142 run unbeaten partnership from Tom Cridland (57 not out) and Chris Godfrey (73 not out) allowed Redbourn to declare at 191 for 3 off 45 overs.

Redbourn bowled well from the start and victory soon looked inevitable. There were outstanding figures for Sam Everly, aged 14, who took three wickets for just six runs. Jim Lee (5 for 33) took the last wicket leaving Wormley all out for 82 off 37 overs.