Ledger hits a ton for Wheato in draw

Sam Ledger hit a century for Wheathampstead in Saturday’s draw at Chipperfield and Clarendon in Saracens Herts Division Three A.

The skipper scored 129, the highest knock by a Wheathampstead batsman in the league since 2000.

It wasn’t enough to earn the Nomansland outfit a win, though, as the innings closed on 228-4, 39 runs off their required winning total.

Wheathampstead looked on course to challenge Chipperfield’s 266-8 after the opening pair, Ledger and Alistair Sykes, opened the innings with a century stand for the second time in four matches.

Ledger attacked the bowling and hit the sightscreen while Sykes nudged twos and threes, and it proved to be his downfall as he was run out for 35. At the other end, Ledger reduced running to a minimum with 14 fours to all parts of the ground.

After Syke’s dismissal, Matt Corran joined Ledger and didn’t miss a beat, picking up the bowlers’ line and length and finding gaps in the field. He was unlucky to fall to the last ball of the over trying to clear the rope to bring up his half-century.

They were always behind the run rate though, and had to settle for a draw.

Corran was Wheathampstead’s top wicket-taker in the match, snaring a five-fer. He completed his five-wicket haul by removing centurion Freddy Hampson in the final over of the innings.