Hemel lose out in frenetic finish against Stevenage

Sadly they couldn’t achieve a maximum, only scoring one and thus losing by four runs on Saturday.

Hemel were seen through to their position by skipper Brett Penny who ended on 117* after opener Hem Ilangaratne had been dismissed with the first ball of their reply.

Tom Elborn (35) helped things along putting on 97 for the second wicket with Penny but then the chase lost its direction until Jack Doodson (23) came in and smashed his runs off 15 balls to put Hemel back on track.

Clever bowling and field placing by Stevenage kept Penny to singles and off the strike so the Hemel momentum could never really get going.

With 18 needed off the last over bowled by Harry Jerome clever bowling kept it down to 13 only and victory for Stevenage.

Earlier Hemel had first restricted Stevenage to 216-7, Parth Metha taking three wickets.

In Division 2B a strong Bishops Stortford II’s, playing at home, made the right call at the toss and inserted Hemel II on a drying wicket.

Hemel were in trouble throughout and although Will Langley managed 41 in the middle of the order and Lewis Hodgins 22 at the top it was only 17 from Rory Fraser and 14* from Cameron Hutcheon at the foot that saw Hemel up to 146 all out in 45 overs.

Stortford openers put on 74 for the first wicket and despite a tight 2-19 off 10 overs from Tony Lynch, an unbeaten 49 from Alex Palmer for Stortford saw them through to a seven wicket win.

Hemel III made the trip up into Bedfordshire to play Ampthill II, who were bottom of Division 4B.

Batting first Hemel III only lasted for 40 of their available 50 overs Ben Bradley opening and scored 68, with Saleem Farooqi batting at five for 40 and Taq Hussain adding 22 from four. There were no other double figure scores as Hemel were all out for 186 in 40 overs.

Ampthill took their time, (45 overs) and although they lost seven wickets still had enough to get past the Hemel III score and overtake them in the division.

Saleem Farooqi (2-27) and 2-44 from Adam Moulster were the best Hemel bowling returns.

A crunching defeat for Hemel IV at home sent them to the foot of Division 8B.

Skipper Tony Linfoot top scored with 26, number 10 Vinnie Liddar managed 22 and Martin Botha made 10. Greenwood Park then took just 18 overs to score the 80 runs necessary to win, Martin Botha taking the only wicket for Hemel in his first over.