Home Counties Premier League Division Two (East) Hemel Hempstead 276-4 drew with St Albans 229-8 ST ALBANS remain unbeaten in Home Counties Premier League Division Two (East) after drawing away at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday. The home side won the toss an

Home Counties Premier League Division Two (East)

Hemel Hempstead 276-4 drew with St Albans 229-8

ST ALBANS remain unbeaten in Home Counties Premier League Division Two (East) after drawing away at Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat reaching 66 before opener Brett Penny was trapped lbw by Murty Hussain when on 40.

The Saints bowling attack was weakened by several absentees and the spinners toiled.

Richardo Mohamed was run out agonisingly close to a century on 93 and James Potton (11) was soon back in the pavilion too courtesy of another run out.

However opener Hemish Illangaratne was still in the middle and he carried his bat to finish on 103no with Nick Hodgins (25no) alongside him as Hemel finished on 276-4 from 60 overs.

Phil Caley and Matt Howeson came out and started brightly before Howeson was dismissed lbw by Ifzal Nawaz for 16.

Caley reached 57, including 10 fours before he was caught by Potton off the bowling of Nawaz as St Albans wobbled on 84-2.

Kyle Sharp (10), Michael Goodfellow (six) and Matthew Barnes (17) all went quickly but Murty Hussain dug in to steady the ship.

Hussain smashed 11 fours on his way to 62no and despite Jim Chaudry (two), captain Martin Jones (15) and Richard O'Toole (19) being dismissed St Albans held on for the draw thanks to a smart 14no from Ethan Fogarty.