Ten-wicket win for Redbourn

Redbourn 100-0

Redbourn win by 10 wickets

A HAT-TRICK from Ben Roe was the highlight as Redbourn recorded a comprehensive 10 wicket victory over Dunstable. Bowling first, Redbourn’s opening bowlers Alistair Jones and Jon Fleming started well and made scoring difficult. Jones (2-25) made the first breakthrough thanks to a Dan Roe slip catch before trapping the dangerous Kilduff lbw for 14. Fleming then got in on the act, taking 3 quick wickets and Dunstable were reeling at 98-6.

With Fleming (3-59) beginning to tire, Ben Roe was brought into the attack with instant results. His first ball trapped Simpkins lbw and second ball bowled Rogers. With the field crowding the bat the hat-trick was completed with Gary Sandford taking a lightning quick stumping. With Chris Godfrey (2-12) wrapping up the innings in the next over, Roe finished with remarkable figures of 1-1-0-3 and Dunstable were all out for 99.

Redbourn never looked in any trouble in their run chase as they reached their target in just 19 overs without losing a wicket. Simon Osman continued where he left off last week with an unbeaten 49 and Gary Sandford was 46* not out from just 49 balls.

n Redbourn were knocked out of the County Cup on Sunday with a spirited performance against premier league outfit Knebworth Park. Fielding first, Redbourn bowled and fielded excellently in the hot conditions and did well to restrict Knebworth to 239 with Chris Godfrey 3-66, Ben Roe 2-31, Dan Roe 2-20 and Jon Fleming 1-27 all bowling well.

Redbourn were always behind the run rate in their reply but good knocks from Dan Roe (41), Geoff Tookey (31) and Toby Ascroft (30) gave Redbourn the chance of victory before they were eventually all out for 200 with four overs to spare.

n Redbourn II missed their chance to extend their lead at the top of Division Seven when they were held to a draw away to Dunstable III.

Skipper Geoff Bartlett won the toss and elected to bat on a hot day with a flat wicket and lightening outfield. Redbourn got off to a flyer reaching 73 off 13 overs when Toby Ascroft was caught at point for 40. The introduction of spinner R Patel slowed the scoring and almost claimed the wicket of Chris Yorath when he was dropped at mid-wicket trying to force the pace. Chris Fleming passed 50 but soon after edged to the keeper off Patel. Yorath began to find his range and after the fall of another wicket to Patel formed a partnership with Earl Bunce (20). After passing 200 Darren Bassill (25*) joined Yorath and together they raced to 270 off 46 overs, allowing Bartlett an early declaration. Yorath finishing two boundaries short of a century on 93*.

In reply Dunstable managed to avoid an early wicket despite Dan Thatcher repeatedly beating the bat. P Trehane (17), playing with a mongoose bat, mowed a few 4s before he edged a sharp catch chance to Bunce at second slip off Bassill. Keogh was comfortable until he limped off with cramp, and his replacement didn’t last long before he was bowled by Martin Benfield.

Despite several poor drops in the field Redbourn edged their way towards a victory with Fleming combining with Bassill for a run out, a caught behind for Bassill, and the retuning Keogh (49) lbw to Matt Lloyd.

At 137-6 and 19 overs remaining the result shouldn’t have been in doubt, however continued poor fielding from Redbourn allowed Rashid and Blake to put on a 102, mainly aerial, partnership. It wasn’t until the 52nd over that a catch was finally held as Bassill caught Rashid (53) off Benfield. The next over Fleming took a catch off Bassill (4-84) and two balls into the final over Benfield (3-43) took the ninth wicket but Dunstable survived the last four balls to earn a draw, finishing 254-9.