Division Three A

Chipperfield Clarendon endured a disappointing seven-wicket loss at home to Hatfield Hyde following a poor batting display.

All out for 140, Chipperfield could not restrict their visitors and Hatfield easily got home with seven wickets in hand, reaching 142 in 33 overs.

Division Four A

Northwood Town came agonisingly close to winning their first league game of the season but were denied by a brave tenth-wicket partnership from Northampton Exiles.

Town were put into bat and started of very well with a 92-run first-wicket partnership between Akshay Loomba (30) and Mikhil Patel (48).

Following the removal of Loomba, wickets collapsed at regular intervals and Town finished on a disappointing 155 all out.

But Northwood fought back with the ball and proved 155 was actually a decent total following some excellent bowling from Kyle Lawrence, who picked up four wickets, to leave the home team teetering on 105 for nine with victory in sight.

However, a patient and valiant innings from Northampton’s number ten and 11 saw the visitors to 156 for nine to clinch the win.

Rickmansworth’s Marc Robinson claimed the 450th wicket of his career with the club but it was not enough to prevent a 96-run loss against Chorleywood Seconds.

With a number of key players missing, Rickmansworth had to field a scratch team and it showed as Chorleywood raced to 214 for nine in their 50 overs.

Jason Phillipson was the pick of the bowlers with figures of five for 43, whilst evergreen Robinson took four for 24 to pass the landmark.

Rickmansworth’s reply was poor with only Safraz Shah (21) and Murtaza (31) making double figures, whilst overseas player Mitch Rosam had to retire on 21 not out with a recurring hamstring issue.

From there, Ricky collapsed to 118 all out and are already staring in the face of a tough season.

Division Four B

A disappointing display with the bat prevented Langleybury Seconds from building on their opening day win as they lost by 51 runs at Harpenden Thirds.

Batting first, Harpenden made a steady start via Nick Reeves (30) and David Whiteley (32) but were unable to build from there and soon found themselves stuttering at 109 for five.

Ollie Illott (three for 32) and Andrew Cheeseman (three for 42) made important contributions as the home side were restricted to 197 for nine.

However, Bury were unable to build on their bowling display and after losing openers Andrew Maidment (10) and Rishil Dhruva (0) cheaply, never recovered.

Twenty-one from Andy Felton was enough to top score and Bury were skittled out for 146, even though the profligate Harpenden bowling attack gave up 37 extras.

Division Five A

Hemel Hempstead Thirds squandered an enviable position to lose by 59 runs at home to Radlett Thirds.

After Rory Fraser (three for 28) and Martin Botha (four for 38) had combined to reduce the visitors to 133 all out, Hemel would rightly have thought they were on course for a routine victory.

But they were undone by an even more ruthless display of bowling as Darren Fabray (four for 22) made light work of the Hemel line-up.

Suren Perera top-scored with just 21 and no other Hemel batsman made it to double figures in a meagre total of 75 all out.

Division Five B

A weakened Chipperfield Clarendon Seconds side comfortably lost by 87 runs against Shenley Village Seconds.

Fielding first, Chipperfield’s Saj Mahmood (three for 54) and Steve Durrant (two for 40) were powerless to resist as Shenley reached 271 for six.

Jon Paddon (69) and Durrant (26 not out) were the only Chipperfield batsmen to offer any resistance before they were dismissed for 185.

Division Six A

Kings Langley Seconds made it two wins from two as they defeated Botany Bay by 31 runs.

Having been put into bat, Kings lost an early wicket but went on to build a solid foundation thanks for 32 from young Scott Rolfe.

A patient knock from Andrew Colquhoun saw him hold the innings together and he ended on 73 not out.

He was supported by Tom Clark (28) and Matt Langston (16) as Kings reached 196 for six from their 50 overs.

In reply, Tom Clark (two for 31) took two early wickets to reduce Bay to eight for two.

A steady fall of wickets throughout the innings resulted in the visitors being skittled for 166, 31 runs short of victory.

The wickets were shared by Rob Clark (three for 26), Rolfe (one for 29), Oldham (two for 27) and Smith (one for 25).

Rickmansworth Seconds are the early divisional leaders after chasing down 210 to beat Allenburys and County Hall Seconds.

Ronesh Nathwani took two for 15 to put the brakes on Allenburys, who had looked like posting 240 or more at the halfway point of their innings before finishing on 208 for five.

Chasing four an over in reply, the Ricky team got the ideal start when skipper Paul Blackwell made it to 35.

But the job was finished in style by Raz Khan (84 not out) and Ronesh Nathwani (51 not out), who scored 86 for the sixth wicket to take Ricky to 212 for five and joint-leadership of the division.