Nothing to separate them as Radlett and Harpenden battle to stalemate

Neil Metcalfe

Published: 12:52 PM June 28, 2018

Updated: 3:04 PM November 1, 2020

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Radlett and Harpenden could not be separated as the sides battled to a draw in the Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Premier Division clash at Cobden Hill.

Radlett's Fakir Dungaria hits a boundary from Harpenden's Ben Clements bowling in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

The hosts were all out for 230 in the 60th over and Harpenden had got to 201-8 in 55 overs before time ran out on their chase.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

The result leaves Harpenden second from bottom of the table, but they have closed the gap on Bishop’s Stortford ahead of them to just nine points.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Radlett remain sixth.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

It was the visitors who won the toss and opted to bat second.

Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

And they got off to a great start as they removed both Tom Jenkins and Frazer Crawford with just five runs on the board.

Radlett's Fakir Dungaria in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

The prized scalp of Radlett skipper Kabir Toor followed as did the wickets of Archit Goenka and Muhammed Adil Zareef.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

By that stage Radlett were 44-5 but Charlie Nicholls and Azharuddin Niyazahmad steadied the ship with a stand of 72 for the sixth wicket.

Radlett's Fakir Dungaria faces a delivery from Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Nicholls was the first to go for 34 but Fakir Dungaria came in and instantly picked up the gauntlet.

Radlett's Fakir Dungaria faces a delivery from Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

By the time he was trapped lbw for 42, they had added a further 87.

Radlett's Fakir Dungaria faces a delivery from Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Niyazahmad went shortly after but had produced a fine innings of 66, built over 123 balls and containing nine fours.

Harpenden celebrate Radlett's Charlie Nicholls' wicket in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Ben Clements closed the innings with the wicket of Anthony Hill but it was William Downes who was the star bowler, finishing on 5-32 after his 15 overs spell.

Radlett's Charlie Nicholls faces a delivery from Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Harpenden’s reply in contrast to the hosts was far better.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Gregg Cooper (46) and Tom Beasley (23) combined to put on 51 for the first wicket and with Ben Clements coming in at three, Harpenden moved on to 91-2.

Harpenden celebrate Radlett's Charlie Nicholls' wicket in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

The removal of the two openers didn’t stop them though and James Latham’s 25 and a patient 67 from Clements pushed them on to 186-4.

Radlett's Charlie Nicholls faces a delivery from Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

However, the removal of the former skipper changed the dynamic of the game completely.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Only Joe Regan would get to double figures as the next four wickets fell for just 12 runs.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

In the end Jake Pankhurst and Billy May managed to see out the remaining time and seal the draw.

Harpenden's Ben Clements prepares to bowl in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Zareef stood out for Radlett with the ball with a fine 4-25, again from 15 overs.

Harpenden's Tom Beasley bowls in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO

Radlett's Azhar Niyazahmad faces a delivery from Harpenden's Ben Clements in the match between Radlett and Harpenden. Picture: DANNY LOO - Credit: Picture: DANNY LOO