Family affair as Hemel beat Championship leaders

Put in by Letchworth, Hemel made steady but not spectacular progress with batsmen getting in but going no further.

Tom Waterton top scored on 42, followed by Josh Graves on 33. It then took Nick Hodgins (41*) and Ed Langley (30*) to put on an undefeated 61 for the seventh wicket to get Hemel up to a defendable total.

It never seemed that Letchworth were chasing with intent and the father and son partnership of Lewis and Nick Hodgins kept them firmly under control and kept the wickets coming for Hemel.

Both bowled 18 overs and Lewis ended up with 3-34 and dad Nick 3-45. Bowling the pair of spinners meant that Hemel had accumulated overs and opener Jack Doodson and Brett Penny were able to come back on at the end to aim for the last wicket.

Jack Doodson was able to do what was required as Ed Langley took a catch to dismiss the Letchworth number 11 Dominic Simmons to win the game for Hemel.

It was a case of almost, but not quite for Hemel II as they ended up drawing at Eversholt, Hemel needing one wicket and Eversholt three runs at the death

Put in by Eversholt, runs at the top from Liam Jahn (43) and at the bottom from skipper for the day Rory Fraser (36) kept Hemel in it although they were all out for 165.

Good fielding and the mixed attack of pace from Charlie Hoskins (2-44) and spin from Cameron Hutcheon (2-25) meant that half way through the Eversholt innings they were 53-5 in a bit of trouble.

They fought back though and although Tony Lynch picked up 2-30 and Rory Fraser 2-46 it went down to the wire. Hemel couldn’t get the last wicket, Eversholt couldn’t get the last runs.

What was looking like a comfortable win for Hemel III against Langleybury II turned into a frantic run chase to avoid the loss of further wickets. Win though Hemel IIIs did, which was the important thing against the visitors who had been second in the table.

Steve Carter top scored for Langleybury II with 65 but none of their batsmen managed to get more than 20 as Hemel III kept a tight rein on them, 2-21 from both Tony Beamish and Jack Boughton showed the bowling pressure applied.

Then skipper Anjam Khan blazed away for 80 and number four Scott Radclife carved a meaningful 50. Both got out close to each other and the remaining Hemel batsmen panicked a little. It took the calm heads of Dave Mudd (8*) and Tony Beamish (2*) to see Hemel home with plenty of overs to spare but only two wickets remaining.

Last time Hemel IV beat Sawbo III was in 2013 and that was at home. Since then they have lost over at Sawbo and in this game they received at bit of a drubbing.

Batting first Hemel were soon in a bit of trouble at 42-5 after 16 overs. Good lower order batting from Will Stokes (39), Vinnie Liddar (26) and Rahul Kedia (25) saw the Hemel total get up to 187 all out.

This didn’t seem to bother the Sawbo openers who tapped off the runs in 23 overs, Dean Chisnall, who is registered for their 1st XI, hitting 132*. Hemel IV remain at the foot of Division 8B.