UNBEATEN Radlett easily dispatched Letchworth on Saturday to extend their winning streak to six games and their lead atop the division to 25 points.
Jonathan McLean’s side have been in ominous form with bat and ball all season, and it was no different at Whitethorn Lane as they held Letchworth to a low total before surpassing it with wickets to spare.
With clouds overhead supporting swing bowling, McLean opted to bowl first. His decision was vindicated early as Shane Burger rapped Richard Walsh (1) on the pads leaving the umpire no choice but to give him out.
The wicket did not bring any pressure with it as Navin Seneviratne and Will Bates rebuilt the innings. The pair found the boundary nine times before falling in quick succession.
Bates (40) was stumped by Tom Jenkins before Seneviratne, having just passed the half-century mark, was trapped LBW by Kabir Toor, leaving the innings at 95-3.
Refusing to let the pressure subside again, Chad Barrett had David Albon (7) caught by McLean and the innings was in the balance at 102-4.
Sam Booth and Matthew Bridge started the recovery but when the former was caught by Fraser Crawford for 27 it was the beginning of the end for Letchworth’s innings.
Burger (3-32) took two more wickets, McLean grabbed a run out and Toor completed his four-wicket haul as the tail end put a combined 14 runs to give Letchworth a total of 158 to defend.
Chasing their highest total of the season – the second highest was Bishop’s Storford’s 148 – Radlett’s dominate duo of Crawford and Toor came out firing to put on 60 runs for the first wicket.
Crawford smashed six fours on his way to 31 from 37 balls before he was caught by Booth. His opening partner Toor was caught by Harkrishan Moore for 37, but he and McLean (20) had put Radlett on 94-3.
Rob Clements chipped in with 18 runs but it was Burger (38no) who pushed the Cobden Hill side past the total to give them a one-game advantage over Stevenage in Division Two.
Final score: Letchworth Garden City (158-9) lost to Radlett (159-9) by five wickets.
On Saturday Radlett welcome basement boys Knebworth Park. 11.30am start.
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