SHL Division Three Redbourn 259-4 beat Chipperfield Clarendon 181 by 78 runs REDBOURN secured promotion from Division Three with an excellent all round performance against Chipperfield Clarendon. After losing the toss, Redbourn batted first and got off

SHL Division Three

Redbourn 259-4 beat Chipperfield Clarendon 181 by 78 runs

REDBOURN secured promotion from Division Three with an excellent all round performance against Chipperfield Clarendon.

After losing the toss, Redbourn batted first and got off to a steady start against a lively opening attack, with opening batsmen Simon Osman and Gary Sandford putting on 34 in just six overs before Osman was bowled by a slower ball.

Sandford (25) was next to go with the score on 65 but this was to be Chipperfield's last success for over 35 overs as skipper Dan Roe and Geoff Tookey put on 175 for the third wicket.

Roe was in magnificent form, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground as he compiled 127 runs from just 130 balls including 19 fours. Tookey gave great support and manoeuvred the ball superbly in scoring 69 from 105 balls. Both batsmen were run out shortly before the end of the innings but the partnership had put Redbourn in a fantastic position at the halfway stage.

In the field, Roe made the bold move of starting with the old ball and opening the bowling with in-form leg spinner Chris Godfrey, and the gamble was to pay off straight away as he bowled the Chipperfield opener in the first over before a run had been scored. Fellow opening bowler Jon Fleming soon got in on the act, bowling the other opener in the eighth over and, with Chipperfield on 24-2, Redbourn were well on top.

However, with Chipperfield's Gary Wise still at the crease, a comeback was always a possibility. He played a lone hand as his partners came and went with Darren Bassill (2-29) taking two wickets and Godfrey removing the dangerous McMillan before the new ball was taken with which Dan Thatcher (1-24) and Fleming (2-49) took a wicket each.

It was then back over to Godfrey who returned to take a further three wickets, including that of Wise for an excellent 108. Godfrey ended up with figures of 5-77, his third five-wicket haul in three weeks. It was an excellent game of cricket and a fine performance by Redbourn who have now been promoted twice in two seasons.

After the match coach Wayne Osman said: "It was a magnificent performance today and all the hard work that the lads have put in this year has paid off. Dan played a wonderful innings, a true captain's knock, and despite a few dropped catches, our performance in the field was superb with all of the bowlers playing a part. We now looked forward to playing Division Two cricket next year."

Despite the victory, the league title now looks out of reach as Redbourn remain in fourth place.

They now need to beat bottom club Clifton on Saturday and all three teams above them to slip up.

Redbourn play Chipperfield Clarendon again this Sunday in the final of the Herts County Trophy at Shenley and all support is welcome.