GARY Brown’s decision to insert Radlett proved to be his downfall as Fraser Crawford and Shane Burger both scored centuries in a comfortable win for the Cobden Hill side.

Herts Advertiser: Syed Ali Kazmi plays one squareSyed Ali Kazmi plays one square (Image: Archant)

Crawford (120) and Burger (116) put on a 219-run stand for the third wicket to take the game beyond Stevenage before Rob Clements steamrolled through the batting order as Radlett moved into the league’s top spot as the only unbeaten team.

In overcast conditions that appeared to favour the bowlers, Brown’s decision to ask Radlett to bat was understandable, and after dismissing Kabir Toor (12) and Jonathan McLean (2) with 30 runs on the board it seemed to be the right one.

Crawford and Burger, however, had other ideas as they frustrated the bowlers, finding the rope at will – they combined for 23 boundaries – before the former was finally dismissed, caught by David Carr off Lee Cope’s bowling, leaving the score at 249-3.

Cope (4-60) completed his four-wicket haul as he and Carr linked up again to remove Burger. Two more wickets – a run out and one for David Morley (1-34) – saw Radlett set a target of 276.

Burger, having starred with the bat, removed both openers with the ball to cap a fantastic day in which he finished with bowling figures of 2-18 off six overs.

Syed Ali Kazmi (51) and Laurie Brown (12) added 54 for the third wicket before the former became the first of Clements’ six victims. With the very next ball Jason Chapman (0) was walking back to the clubhouse with the score at 86-4.

Stevenage went into self destruct mode in the face of Clements’ ruthless deliveries as the tail end collapsed from 97-5 to 108-9. All that was left was for Chad Barrett (1-27) to catch Cope (2) off his own bowling to seal a convincing win for the hosts.