Wheathampstead lost by two wickets to Allenburys and County Hall despite half-centuries from Matt Corran and Todd Houlahan.

Having opted to bat first, Corran held the top of the innings together with a 122-ball 61. He lost three partners before being joined by Houlahan at the crease.

The duo went for 89 runs for the fourth wicket to take Wheathampstead from 38-3 to 127-4. The partnership was broken when Houlahan had his stumps rearrange by Andrew Taggart (4-25) for an even half-century.

Corran did his best to continue the charge, but when he was run out by Nick Barnaby with the score on 149 for the sixth wicket, Wheathampstead’s innings quickly subsided.

Dillan Yogendra (9) and Keith Martin (12*) managed to add a few more runs before Wheathampstead were all out for 173.

David Murnane (33) and James Hasell (43) gave Allenburys an excellent start, putting one a 60-run first-wicket stand.

Corran (4-36) seemingly swung the game back in Wheathampstead’s favour with a hat-trick. He caught and bowled Hasell before cleaning up Andrew Szemiako and Thomas Barnaby to reduce Allenbury’s to 97-5.

Nick Barnaby, however, build on the success of the openers with 41 runs to put his side on the cusp of victory.

Barnaby fell to Houlahan (3-21) but it was the final wicket and only six more runs were required for victory, a task Simon Hibbert (4*) and Lloyd Stark (2*) achieved with ease.