Division Five Old Albanian II 150-10 (48.0) Parkfield & Headstone 115-10 (40.5) OLD Albanian II were able to rely on a good bowling display as they beat home side Parkfield & Headstone in Division Five on Saturday. The OAs won the toss and batted first. D

Division Five

Old Albanian II 150-10 (48.0) Parkfield & Headstone 115-10 (40.5)

OLD Albanian II were able to rely on a good bowling display as they beat home side Parkfield & Headstone in Division Five on Saturday.

The OAs won the toss and batted first. David Rourke was unlucky to fall before Rod Warren (58) and Faraz Khan (33) batted sensibly and put on 80 valuable runs for the second-wicket partnership. OAs were well set at 102-1 before they crashed all out for 150.

The OA bowlers Perry Hall and Kamal Jagatai bowled a tight line in the opening overs with Jagatai clean bowling the first two batsmen. The Parkfield batsmen then consolidated and looked comfortable at 80 for 2.

The introduction of Tariq Hassan, who took the next three wickets to fall including the dangerous opener, cleared the way for the impressive Perry Hall (5 for 35) to blitz the tail and secure the first victory of the season for OAs. Parkfield & Headstone were all out for 115.

l Duncan Taylor scored a magnificent 91 opening for Old Albanian III but could not prevent them from continuing their poor run of form in Division 11 at Hatfield Hyde II.

After losing the toss the visitors were asked to bat and, following the loss of early wickets, Taylor was left to steer OAs to a competitive total almost single handedly. Taylor ran out of partners as he approached a maiden 100 for the club and was unlucky to be caught on 91, looking to keep the strike. OAs were all out for 152 off 43.2 overs.

In reply Hatfield Hyde steadily chased down the total required, with Chris Jukes (two wickets) the pick of the Old Albanian bowlers as they looked to pile the pressure on the home side as the overs ran out. Eventually Hatfield Hyde were able to wrap up victory on 156-5 with eight balls to spare.

l Old Albanian IV hosted Waltham Cross Rosedale on the recently relocated artificial wicket at Woollams on Saturday in Division 13. After winning the toss, the OAs put the visitors in to bat under overcast and damp conditions. Despite the early promise of runs, Waltham Cross' wickets began to fall under sustained fielding pressure. The visitors were all out for 133 after 40 overs.

After tea, patient batting from Simon Wakeling (53 not out) and Jitesh Pindoria (38 not out) saw the home side achieve victory with the loss of only one wicket.

l The Old Albanian first-team home fixture with Cockfosters at Woollams was cancelled due to the weather. OAs take on Abbots Langley on Saturday at Woollams in Division Two.

l OAs hosted Abbots Langley at Woollams on Sunday, keen to make a good start to their Chess League season.

After a poor start, Ali Lewis (49), Trinidad star Kwesi Roy (30) and Matt Corran showed some resistance but OAs were bowled out for 177, unable to complete their allotted 45 overs.

In response, Abbots got off to a good start before stumbling thanks to tight spells by Roy and Lewis. It all came down to the last over with 12 runs to win and then two off the last ball which was hit to the boundary, much to the dismay of the home side.