AFTER last week s emphatic 131 run win over Botany Bay, Redbourn s new skipper, Dan Roe, was looking for a similar performance at home

Division Four

Redbourn 235-8 (53.0) Botany Bay 104-10 (34.4)

Northampton Exiles 76-10 (30) Redbourn 77-1 (20)

AFTER last week's emphatic 131 run win over Botany Bay, Redbourn's new skipper, Dan Roe, was looking for a similar performance at home against Northampton Exiles.

Having lost the toss for a second week in a row, Roe found his side having to bowl first in the Division Four clash on a good batting wicket, but with humid conditions conducive to swing bowling.

The match started slowly before Toby Ascroft executed a perfect pick up and throw at mid off to strike the one stump he had to aim at for a run out.

What followed was quite amazing, as first, Ahmed Jamal picked up two wickets in an over with both left hand batsmen falling LBW to vicious in-swinging deliveries. Not to be outdone, Jon Fleming did exactly the same in the next over, cleaning bowling two of the Exiles middle order, with balls that nipped off the seam. When Fleming (3-24) bowled another Exiles batsman in his next over, the scoreboard read 11-6.

Darren Bassill, delivered a fine out-swinger which took dangerman Frost's outside edge and carried to skipper Roe at first slip. Bassill then trapped another batsman and at 42 for 8, there was no way back for the Exiles. Bassill (3-14) and Jamal (3-30) finished the job as Exiles were bowled out for just 76 in 28.4 overs.

Whilst Redbourn had 71 overs to knock off the runs, openers Simon Osman and Chris Yorath were looking to play positively from the outset. The pair added 44 in good time, before Yorath nicked one to first slip for 21. Osman and Roe, then picked off the runs at will, with Osman finishing unbeaten on a well made 37, including 6 fours, and Roe ended 9 not out, as Redbourn cruised passed the total in 18.4 overs.

Skipper Roe said: "The hard work at training is paying off, and I was really pleased with our performance today. We bowled extremely well, the fielding looked sharper than it has done for sometime and the batsmen finished the job off."

In their previous match Redbourn started their Division Four campaign in emphatic style, with an excellent win at Botany Bay.

Redbourn had to bat first on a green damp wicket and openers Simon Osman and Chris Yorath soon got into their stride. Osman (26) finally fell to a catch at point while

Yorath fired 70 off 86 balls before he was caught behind.

Nigel Wellsbury (46) rebuilt the innings with support from Gary Sandford (16) and Faisal Khan, before Darren Bassill (29 not out) and Ahmed 'Boom Boom' Jamal (21 not out) smashed Redbourn to 235-8 off their allotted 53 overs.

In reply, Jamal tore into the Bay's batting line up as he took four of the first five wickets to fall. Jon Fleming (1 for17) also got into the act taking out the middle stump with one that nipped back, as Botany Bay were reduced to 33 for 5.

Faisal Khan found immediate success, with Ben Roe taking a catch at mid on, and another ripping back to take the off stump.

Khan (3 for 28) was aided by a superb catch at mid wicket by Wellsbury, and with Darren Bassill (1 for 21) taking out the off stump of Bay's No.10, Redbourn were on the brink of victory. Fittingly, it was the returning Jamal (5 for 23) who secured the win as the opposition were bowled out for 104, giving Redbourn a well deserved victory by 131 runs.