SHL Division Three Redbourn 79-5 v Abbotts Langley 285-2 - Match abandoned (rain) REDBOURN were saved by the weather on Saturday as they were totally outplayed by Abbotts Langley but still manage to come away with a draw and 10 points. Dan Roe won the t

SHL Division Three

Redbourn 79-5 v Abbotts Langley 285-2 - Match abandoned (rain)

REDBOURN were saved by the weather on Saturday as they were totally outplayed by Abbotts Langley but still manage to come away with a draw and 10 points.

Dan Roe won the toss and elected to field on a hot afternoon, a tactic that has proved successful so far this season.

Redbourn's bowlers were put under pressure straight away, with both opening batsman latching on to anything loose and taking advantage of a lightning quick outfield.

The score had reached 40 in the eighth over when the first breakthrough was made after some quick thinking by the bowler Dan Thatcher, deflecting the ball onto the stumps in his follow-through leaving the unfortunate batsman stranded backing up at the non-strikers end.

This was to be Redbourn's only success for some time as Abbotts' Australian Chris Chellow combined with Barry Warner in a stand of 226.

Chellow was in particularly good form, playing shots all around the ground in scoring 156*.

Warner was eventually out, caught by Gary Sandford off the bowling of Ahmed Jamal for 78 before Abbots declared on 285-2 from 51 overs.

Redbourn used seven bowlers in an attempt to stop the flow of runs, with only Jamal (1-65) having anything to show for his efforts.

In reply, Redbourn never really looked like challenging the total and only Simon Osman showed any form with 39.

However, with the weather closing in they knew that all might not be lost. When Jamal was dismissed having been distracted by a lightning strike, the umpires decided that the players should leave the field shortly before a torrential downpour turned the ground into a lake making it clearly unplayable and the match was abandoned.

After the game, captain Dan Roe spoke of his disappointment about the Redbourn performance.

"We got away with it today, and were lucky to get the 10 points," he said.

"We didn't bowl, field or bat well and we can't expect to remain near the top of the table with performances like that."

Redbourn II had the opposite luck to their first XI as they were on the way to a 30 point win in Division Seven when the heavens opened and saved Boxmoor from defeat.

Batting first Redbourn started comfortably, despite suffering an early wicket, with Jack Dyer (33) and Toby Ascroft (60) playing some classy shots.

When Dyer departed Antony Mauder joined Ascroft and at 120-2 Redbourn were looking to up the run rate.

A collapse that saw them reduced to 124-6 swung the game to Boxmoor but Jimmy Spiers and Chris Godfrey (27) steadied the innings and then Spiers smashed some big boundarys to reach 58* and a final total of 234-7 off 53 overs.

In reply Redbourn took the old ball, starting with the prodigious spin of Godfrey that was too good for Boxmoors top order.

Three quick wickets for Godfrey and one for Pete Cridland had Redbourn on the offensive with a nine man ring around the bat.

A further two wickets for Godfrey and Boxmoor were hanging on by their finger tips at 96-6 when the thunder storm struck finishing the days play.

Skipper Mauder said: "I'm delighted with the performance of our team today. Chris was unplayable and deserved his 5-59 figures.

"George Naismith also deserves a mention, hitting 14 not out, bowling a tight five over spell for 12 runs, and fielding terrifically including an outstanding catch on the boundary.