With three of the four St Albans Cricket Club sides falling victim to the wet weather, focus turned to the second team – and they didn’t disappoint with victory over Ickleford 2nds.

It was a match of assorted twists and turns but it gave the second string a third win of the season and sent them top of Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Five A.

A solid bowling effort kept the target down to 176 when a larger chase had been threatened.

And thanks to quick scoring from Jonny Hall, with good support from Stuart Murray, they got to their goal before the final deluge arrived from the west.

The opening 20 overs belonged to Ickleford who at 82-1 had set a good platform.

The slow bowling of Hall and Ben McInnes did pick up five wickets through a mixture of deception, good catching and poor batting.

At 99 for 5, Brown lead a recovery, after a rain break, with aggressive batting especially when left with the tail.

Amit Rajani and Richard O’Toole picked up the last five wickets with the final four costing just two runs, both wides.

And taking 41 overs to dismiss Ickleford, instead of the 44 available, was to prove vital later.

Hall and Murray both hit two boundaries in the opening two overs as St Albans set about their reply.

The 50 arrived in nine overs with all but four runs in boundaries.

Murray’s departure for 26 sparked a small collapse with Naveed Ahmed and Rajani both run out by direct hits.

Hall brought up his 50 from 48 balls as the skies darkened.

And it was left to Phil Caley & Hall to play out two more overs to ensure that the 20 overs were bowled.

Saints had 99 on the board at this point, with the target being 81 and four balls later the rain arrived and the match was conceded half an hour later.

Hall finished on 61 not out from 64 balls and hit 12 fours.

This Saturday sees the 1sts visit Watford whilst the 2nds host Old Cholmeleians.

The 3rd team are also at home, to Hertford, while the 4ths travel to Shenley Village.

# Both Radlett and Harpenden fell to defeats in the SHCL Premier Division.

Radlett fell to North Mymms while Harpenden lost at home on the Duckworth-Lewis method.