SANDRIDGE maintained top spot in the league following another comfortable win, this time against Chipperfield Clarendon.

Chipperfield chose to bat first on a damp track and were soon in trouble with John Murphy’s (3-29) opening spell being too good for the top order batsmen.

With the help of Lawrence White’s (1-13) equally effective spell, Sandridge had the opposition struggling at 30-4.

Skipper Lennie Peters (3-16) introduced himself and added to the home side’s misery. Ferguson added another and despite some lower order discipline 97 looked like a simple target to reach. And so it proved.

Sandridge lost Peter Camm and Paul Rothery both to LBW early but such is the confidence and batting strength this was only minor blip.

Adam Temple (43) and Ian Merryfield (40no) saw the away side to victory with some excellent stroke play. Merryfield’s two big sixes were particularly eye catching.

Andy Norman hit the shot of the day to collect the winning runs.

Sandridge face a tougher test next week against local rivals Flamstead.

Final score: Sandridge (98-3) beat Chipperfield Clarendon 2s (97) by seven wickets.

• Sandridge 2s also had a good win, beating Chorleywood 3s by two wickets.

Chorleywood won the toss and elected to bat but poor fielding and dropped catches let the visitors off the hook, enabling them to reach 186, with only Reggie Perrin 5-73 shining with the ball.

Once again the Sandridge openers David Camm (54) and Matt Scott (36) got off to a flying start putting on 82 for the first wicket. They were backed up by contributions through the middle order and it was left to Matt Miller (20no) to see Sandridge home with five overs to spare.