Hemel lift themselves off bottom of table

Halfway through the 2016 season and bottom of the table after relegation last year, losing to Langleybury would be the end of all ends.

It was not to be though, despite being put in by Langleybury on an overcast rainy day, Hemel dug in and 42 from Hem Ilangaratne together with 73 from Brett Penny, the ex and current captains working in synch, drove Hemel forward to 237-9 from 60 overs.

In 20 overs Hemel had Langleybury at 48-6 with the result wrapped up. 26* from Peter Metcalfe and 38 from Richard Oxley held things up, but not for long, Lewis Hodgins and Brett Penny saw off the tail and Hemel skipper Penny turned in 4-15, Lewis Hodgins, 3-35 and Jack Doodson 2-31.

Intermittent rain cost Hemel II the victory they looked like getting and needed at home to Potton Town..

A much weakened side with players called up to the 1st XI or not available, Hemel II were put in by their Bedfordshire visitors. Their score of 155-9 was built around 50* from Aaron Wilson, up from opening for the 3rd XI. Taq Hussain with 29 was the nearest score to that as Hemel players chipped in without running wild.

Then captain for the day Rory Fraser opened the bowling and ripped through the early Potton batting. Martin Botha also opened and took three wickets so after 22 overs Potton were at 52-7. Unfortunately Stevens (25*) and Walker (10*) then dug in and played out the next 21 overs without losing another wicket. Potton ended at 97-7 from their 43 overs, There were bowling figures of 4-24 from Rory Fraser and 3-33 from Martin Botha.

Hemel III were glad to get away with a draw when they had almost thrown the match away.

Bowling first Adam Moulster was able to tear into the Broxbourne II batting to return figures of 5-38 from 13 overs. That set Hemel III 192 to win. They started off well with 46 from Anjam Khan and 28 from John Clulow. They lost a couple of wickets quickly and then Scott Radcliffe (27) and Andy Turbutt (17) steadied the innings. 145-3 after 35 overs soon became 151-7 as Scanlon came on and took three wickets in his first over, one the next.

In the end Dan Turbutt (9*) and Jack Boughton (0), together with one of those ever-present rain showers, saw Hemel through to a draw after they had looked liked winning and then looked like losing. They acquired 16 points to maintain a mid table position after last year’s promotion.

It’s now two wins on the trot for Hemel IV as they move up to seventh in the division. Next Saturday they play Northampton Exiles II, below them in the division so all to play for.

Here a Waltham Cross II with only nine men were blown away for 65 with the bowling of Vinnie Liddar (4-28) and Ross Chapman (4-36). Hemel tried to make victory difficult for themselves until the bowler Vinnie Liddar came in up the order and smashed 20* to see Waltham Cross II off and win by five wickets.