Dave Irwin hit a pivotal ton in Redbourn’s opening day, 45-run win over Chipperfield Clarendon in Saracens Herts Division 3A.

Opening the batting, Irwin scored 118, his highest score in four years, from 119 balls as Redbourn set Chipperfield an imposing target of 261.

He was not the only batsmen to take a liking to the bowling. Ben Roe (28) and Irwin put 60 runs on the board before the former was caught behind. Number four Conor Yorath was Redbourn’s second highest scorer with 40 and together with Irwin, he amassed 128 runs for the third wicket to take the score from 64 to 192.

A 37 run stand between Irwin and Alex Salter (20) followed before Redbourn’s talisman was caught, having scored two sixes and 13 fours in his match-winning stand.

George Naismith added a quick-fire 25 as Redbourn finished their innings on a 261-6.

Chipperfield started their chase in defiant fashion as Alex Moore (10), Freddy Hampson (21) and Michael Edwards (15) racked up 51 runs for the first two wickets.

Dan Darvell then got his teeth into the line-up with a remarkable spell of bowling. After removing Edwards for the second wicket, he followed up with three more dismissals to leave Chipperfield reeling at 65-5.

Chipperfield rebuilt the innings with partnerships of 35 and 46, but it was the performance of number 10 Ian Grout that almost gave Redbourn a scare. Grout hit three sixes in a 25-ball 41 to close in on victory.

Despite being behind the run-rate, Redbourn finally exhaled a sigh of relief when Darvell caught Grout off Adam Pritchard’s delivery to seal a 45-run win.