HCPL Division Two East Harpenden 134-10 (40.5) Hertford 136-6 (38.2) HARPENDEN were defeated by four wickets in tough conditions at Hertford in the Home Counties Premier League Division Two East on Saturday. Hertford won the toss and gambled on inserting

HCPL Division Two East

Harpenden 134-10 (40.5) Hertford 136-6 (38.2)

HARPENDEN were defeated by four wickets in tough conditions at Hertford in the Home Counties Premier League Division Two East on Saturday.

Hertford won the toss and gambled on inserting Harpenden. Mark Fordham played well for Harps and fired 21 runs off 37 balls before he was caught behind by Bancroft off Chris Box.

Sulaman Qadir (17) was spectacularly caught by Niz Mohammed and after a spell of rain the Harpenden over allocation was reduced to 58 overs. On the resumption Tony Hooper and Oliver Tuck batted carefully to see the visitors to 94-5 at lunch.

Rain extended the luncheon interval and reduced the over split to 56-45. Harpenden were unable to use up their allocation as Box bowled Hooper for 26 and a smart runout of Tuck by Krishan Canagasabey reduced them to 110-7.

Sandun Dias (2) and Scott Ruskin (1) mopped up the tail for 134 leaving Hertford 60 overs to get the runs. Mohammed finished with 3-51 and Box bowled well for his 3-29 off 13 overs.

Will Bancroft and Krishan Canagasabey got Hertford off to a steady start and took the total to 35 before Canagasabey was caught by Chris Arnold off Mark Mason for 11. That left just 100 to win.

Ollie Ray did not last long and soon after he was bowled by Mason, Bancroft was caught in the slips by Qadir off Arnold and Hertford were 43-3.

Threatening

A steady partnership of 40 then followed between Richard Cordingley and Scott Ruskin. After Cordingley's departure, Dias helped Ruskin take the score to 120 before falling to Qadir. With the skies very dark and rain again threatening Hertford threw the bat and ran out winners by four wickets. Ruskin top scored with 56 not out while Mark Mason was the top bowler for Harpenden with 3-41. Chris Roe, Chris Arnold and Sulaman Qadir each claimed one wicket.

In Division Three of the Saracens Herts League, Harpenden II hit form at home to beat Letchworth II.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat Letchworth fired 155-9 off their 51 over allocation. Sam Booth top scored with 49 before he was run out while opener Tom Simmons hit 43.

Number eight batsman Diesel Curry hit 22 runs before he was dismissed by the impressive Harpenden bowler John Kerley who struck out seven wickets for just 25 runs in a superb 16 over spell. David Robinson took the other wicket.

In reply, Harpenden opener Mick Brookes hit 23 runs and number three Mark Fettes struck 19.

Ollie Chinneck (28), Deshan Karunaratne (43) and Graeme Sprowson (26 not out) made key contributions as Harpenden secured the win on 159-5 off 34.3 overs.

Harpenden V claimed a fine win at home to Welwyn Garden City V in Division 13.

After winning the toss, Harpenden dismissed Welwyn for 115 before reaching the target on 118-4 from 30.2 overs.