NORMAL service resumed for Radlett on Saturday as they easily defeated Hemel Hempstead Town to move 50 points clear at the top of Division Two.

After last week’s game against Knebworth Park was abandoned due to rain – Radlett’s first non-winning game of the season – the Cobden Hill side picked up where they left off two weeks ago.

Hempstead won the toss and elected to bat first but Shane Burger and Chad Barrett tore through the openers, dismissing three of the top four batsmen for 15 runs.

Burger took the first two scalps, having Hamish Ilangaratne (3) and Kashif Dalvi (0) caught, before Barrett had Blesson Ghoghe caught by skipper Jonathan McLean.

Opener Brett Penny (20) and Gareth James (16) started to rebuild the innings but both fell with the score on 43 to leave Hempstead in real trouble. And when Chris Blunt (4) and Hitesh Patel (4) were sent packing with the score on 66, the trouble was compounded.

Josh Graves (39) and Nick Hodgins put 50 on the board to see Hempstead over the 110 mark before the former became Burger’s third catch of the day. Brad Finch (2) walked out to the crease but his stay lasted just three balls before Hodkins (26) was run out to bring the innings to an end on 120.

Having seen their opponents struggle to score freely, Radlett had no such qualms. As has become customary this season, Fraser Crawford and Kabir Toor set Radlett up for the win with a 61-run opening partnership.

Crawford was caught having made 36 off 40 balls and McLean followed soon after, dismissed for a run-a-ball innings of six.

They were to be the only two wickets as Toor pushed on for his fourth half-century of the season. Supported by Burger, who added 23 runs to his two wickets and three catches, Radlett cruised to victory in 24.2 overs.

Final score: Hemel Hempstead Town (120) lost to Radlett (121-2) by eight wickets

Radlett welcome Sawbridgeworth to Cobden Hill on Saturday, 11.30am start.

• Radlett Women’s Sunday team had an equally impressive win, beating Hemel Hempstead Town by four wickets. Following in the men’s footsteps, the women scuppered Hempstead out for a low total. Anna Harris was pick of the bowlers with three wickets.

The winning reply was anchored by Katie Pankhurst’s unbeaten 41 after Louise Verroken-Jones (17) and Samantha Battman (16) set the foundation.