ONLY skipper Shane Burger delivered with the bat as Radlett crashed to opening day defeat to High Wycombe at Cobden Hill in the HCPL Division One on Saturday.

Home Counties Premier League Division One

Radlett 92-10 (27.3) High Wycombe 96-3 (21)

ONLY skipper Shane Burger delivered with the bat as Radlett crashed to opening day defeat to High Wycombe at Cobden Hill in the HCPL Division One on Saturday.

Burger (30), Kabir Toor (14) and Paul Barker (11) hit double figures but Radlett were blasted out for just 92. Star bowler Paul Sawyer claimed 5-39 for Wycombe.

In reply, young bowlers Rob Watson (2-23) and Robbie Crocker (1-22) took wickets but visitors Wycombe sealed the win on 96-3 off 21 overs.

On Sunday, Radlett beat Shenfield to reach the second round of the Evening Standard Trophy. All the bowlers bowled well, though Simon Jackson was particularly effective on a pitch that offered good carry and he fully deserved his 5-29. Kabir Toor (4-62), Paul Barker and Rob Crocker also contributed well but Shenfield reached 221. Arjun Luthra again impressed with the gloves for Radlett and looks to be a fine prospect.

The run chase was a strange affair where the run rate was never an issue but, after Kabir (74) and James Lewis (28) had got off to a rapid start, Radlett seemed to struggle. It was left to Nick Fielden (18) and Heath Paynter (15) to really get the home side over the line. They will need to improve all aspects of their game to get past Tring Park in the next round.

Radlett II grabbed 30 points in an action-packed display at Rickmansworth in Division Two. Impressive young wicket keeper Arjun Luthra, aged 16, backed up the bowlers well and Johnny Barr (2-24) and Richard Cameron (6-50) bowled well with the new ball. Lee Fortis (2-17) also impressed as Rickmansworth were restricted to 106 all out.

In reply, Radlett relied on Graham Dill (48) to lead them to victory with David Robinson (23 not out) also contributing as they reached 107-5 off 27.1 overs.

Radlett IV lost by 10 runs in the final over in an exciting Division Six match at Ware, with Toby Sutherland's unbeaten 61 almost snatching victory.

Chasing Ware's 186 for eight, Radlett stumbled to 34-4 in the 16th over before Sutherland launched a superb recovery, well supported by Chandana Meepagama, Jamie Wells and finally Neil Lederman.

Strokeplay proved awkward on a slow, low pitch that grew lower as the hours wore on but Sutherland hit the ball crisply and added a couple of sixes to bring Radlett close. The pendulum swung away from Radlett when Giles Mitchell ran himself out but Sutherland and Lederman added 43 for the ninth wicket to revive hopes.

When the last over started, Radlett needed 11 to win with one wicket in hand and Sutherland off the strike. Fast-bowler Gavin Wren, a newcomer from Middlesex League first-team cricket at Hampstead CC, struck with his third ball.

Ware's total owed much to another newcomer of pedigree at Ware - Jay Webster, a recent Warwickshire second XI batsman, who hit 105 while wickets tumbled all around him.

Meepagama (4-47) starred with the ball, pitching up on a wicket-to-wicket line and his efforts were matched by Richard Hardy (3-33) with his off spin.