HCPL Division Two (East) St Albans 134 lost to West Herts 182 by 48 runs ST ALBANS worrying run of form continued at the weekend as they were beaten by West Herts. The Saints are without a win in their last six league games and were undone by a superb bow

HCPL Division Two (East)

St Albans 134 lost to West Herts 182 by 48 runs

ST ALBANS worrying run of form continued at the weekend as they were beaten by West Herts.

The Saints are without a win in their last six league games and were undone by a superb bowling display from the home side's Matt Smith who finished the game with seven wickets to his name.

It had all started well for the Saints, who won the toss and asked the home side to bat first. With just 11 runs on the board Kris Cummins got the first breakthrough bowling Aliastair Lewis for 4.

New Zealander Neal Parlane and Smith set about building the innings and the pair had put on 42 for the second wicket when Smith (15) was caught by Saints skipper Martin Jones to give Cummins his second victim.

Parlane looked in good nick and was advancing towards his half century when he was caught and bowled by Murty Hussain to leave West Herts on 80-3.

Shaun Farrell and Waqas Chaudhry took the home side past the 100 mark before Farrell (29) was run out sparking a mini-collapse.

138-4 became 140-5 as Dan Grahame was bowled by Chaudry and with just one more run added to the scoreboard Chaudry bowled Chaudhry for 35.

Ian Gurney and Ducan Kendal steadied the ship putting on 29 for the sixth wicket before Hussain took control of the proceedings.

The Surrey man took his second caught and bowled of the day to remove Kendal (18) before bowling Alqaas Chaudhry for a first-ball duck.

Hussain soon had Gurney (11) back in the pavilion after Matthew Barnes held onto the catch and Raoul Harding was the last man out clean bowled by Hussain for 6 to bring the West Herts innings to an end on 182.

Hussain ended the afternoon with figures of 29.2-8-71-5.

The Saints' innings got off to a steady start with Matt Howeson and Daniel Nicholls successfully negotiating their way through the opening overs.

Nicholls was the first man out for 12 and Howeson (19) was not far behind as Smith claimed his first victim as the visitors slipped to 43-2.

Hussain's form with the bat didn't match that with ball as he failed to trouble the scorers as Smith claimed wicket number two.

Barnes and Kyle Sharp put on 16 for the fourth wicket before Sharp (8) became Smith's third victim.

The experience Phil Caley was the new batsmen and he and Barnes dug in against a West Herts side who had their tails up.

Caley had made 18 before he was caught by wicket-keeper Kendal off the bowling of Smith as the Clarence Park outfit wobbled on 94-5.

The Saints' chances of getting anything from the game were further weakened when Barnes (29) was caught behind by Kendal off the bowling of Alqaas Chaudhry.

A defiant 20 from Douglas Muzawazi gave the visitors a glimmer of hope but his dismissal was the start of a tail-end collapse that saw just five runs added for the last three wickets.