SHL Division Three Wheathampstead 167-9 beat Stevenage II 111 by 56 runs WHEATHAMPSTEAD snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to an inspired performance from tail enders Richard Winchester and Dave Tree. Zaf Iqbal kept up his 100per cent record

SHL Division Three

Wheathampstead 167-9 beat Stevenage II 111 by 56 runs

WHEATHAMPSTEAD snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to an inspired performance from tail enders Richard Winchester and Dave Tree.

Zaf Iqbal kept up his 100per cent record of losing the toss which did not unduly concern the home team on what looked like a reasonable batting track.

Twenty overs later the top order batsmen again made a mess of it as the score of 36-5 clearly indicated.

It is bad enough when batsmen are struggling for runs but to add to the woe with a daft run out did not help. During this period Nevill had bowled well conceding only eight runs from 10 overs and Carter made a useful contribution getting two quick wickets in his spell with both bowlers ending with three wickets after lengthy 20 over spells.

At 64-8 the application WCC had been waiting for was provided in abundance by Winchester who with the assistance of Tree batted brilliantly to push Wheato to 167-9 and use up the allocated 53 overs.

It was a great effort with Winchester ending on 55no and Dave Tree hitting 34 including a massive six over long on.

The Stevenage innings got underway in controversy when Ganji was run out having collided at mid-wicket with the bowler. Was he obstructed or not? The umpires ruled it was not deliberate.

A fired up Adam Robbins then produced a spell of high quality fast bowling. His pace and movement was too hot to handle with two catches to the keeper and a ripper to take out the Stevenage number three Whitworth for 15.

Stevenage were now on the back foot until Carter 24 and Nevill 21 put together a threatening partnership to get the score up to 100.

A good running catch in the deep off Tree saw the end of Carter and with it any hopes of a Stevenage win.

Adam Robbins and Nick Martin bowled out the tail for a victory that seemed unlikely an hour into the game.

IN Division Eight high-riding WCC II put Knebworth into bat on a bowler friendly wicket. The decision was inspired as the home team were skittled out for 111 runs.

The only worthwhile resistance came from opener Chiundarana with 27 and Folwell batting at seven with 38.

Dave Arbuthnott continues to worry Division Eight batsmen with his left arm pace as his return of 7-4-13-4 clearly indicated.

Jimmy McEwen bowled tightly claiming an early wicket and it could have been two had a simple catch not been fluffed.

Steve Booth then bagged 3-20 with his left arm spin as Wheato dominated the proceedings.

A good opening partnership of 25 between skipper Tim Kiek 16 and Peter Griffiths 14 got Wheato off to a solid start.

The loss of two quick wickets did not cause any major alarms as Dave Dabare 32no eased the in-form Nomanslanders to another victory to consolidate their second place position in the league.

ON a sunny Sunday afternoon at Nomansland Common the Sunday XI lost the toss and were put into bat by Harpenden Dolphins.

Wheathampstead started well with a good opening partnership between Dave Dabare (20) and Sam Ledger (31).

When Dabare was well caught at gully, Peter Griffiths joined Ledger to carry on the quick fire scoring and at 10 overs Wheato were 62-1.

The Dolphins came back with a few quick wickets and a much needed partnership between Dave Stevens (26) and Pete Robbins (24) got the home side back on track.

Jack Stevens held the lower order together with a well constructed 14. Wheathampstead finished on 177-9 from 40 overs.

Wheathampstead opened up well with the ball, with Adam Robbins and Dan Norris restricting the Dolphins to 28-2 off of 10 overs.

Wheathampstead were on top until Gregory (85) and James (22) built a partnership that took the game away from the home side.

Harpenden Dolphins eventually won the game in the 37th over by five wickets.