Hemel suffer heavy Championship defeat

The hosts took great advantage and batted on to an imposing score of 31-6. Openers Rob Walters (72) and Ross Clarke (87) put on 151 for the first wicket and number three Neels Bergh came in and smashed 58 from 49 balls. Jack Doodson, with a couple of late wickets, headed the Hemel bowling with 3-77 and Ed Langley snaffled his first of the first XI season to take 1-33.

Batting in reply Hemish Ilangaratne (22) and Tom Elborn (9) put on 26 for the first wicket in seven overs. Then Hoddy got a grip and dismissed the next nine men for just 49 added runs. Highlight of the day, from an Hemel batting point of view, was a last wicket stand of 57 between Ed Langley (22*) and no. 11 Rory Fraser who top scored on 27. Hemel were all out for 132.

There was a much needed win for Hemel IIs to get their ball rolling from the foot of Division Two B.

Short of bowling called for great enterprise from skipper Graham Clark, and he provided it. Suren Perera turned in 3-21 from nine overs at the end, Rahul Wickramsinghe took 3-55, two at the top and then the last wicket. Chris Dawson with 60 opening the batting for Allenbury’s was their best return.

What was needed from the Hemel batting was a major innings from at least one batsman and Taq Hussain delivered, scoring 110 to see Hemel on their way to victory. The only blemish, perhaps, was getting out when the scores were level. But he had done his job. This was Taq’s first ton for a senior Hemel side in the Herts League so a cause for double celebration that evening, a win and first ton.

Second team scorer, Graham Nixon, was honoured on Saturday, to mark 30 years’ loyal service to the club. The well-liked and experienced scorer was all smiles as he was presented with a personalised Hemel Town Cricket Club blazer by second team captain Graham Clark.

The presentation was met with warm applause from players and spectators alike.

It was back to some form of reality for Hemel IIIs as a lowly, but strong, Northampton Exiles side took them to the cleaners in Division Four B.

Put in, only John Clulow with 50 managed to hold back the tide, Andy Turbutt batting at six held his end up for 26* but there was no great support as Hemel were all out for 133. In reply opener Patel raced through to 81* for Northampton Exs to see them to victory. The only wickets for Hemel came from skipper Anjam Khan (3-42).

In Division Eight B Northampton Exiles II scored 162 2 in 37.1 overs to win the game against Hemel IV. YOnly 43 from Vinnie Liddar and 39* from skipper Tony Linfoot, partnership of 69 for the 7th wicket, kept Hemel afloat as they made 158.

A Hemel side containing just four first team regulars deserve credit for pushing Premier Division North Mymms to a close finish in the T20 county quarter-finals on Sunday.

The now self-proclaimed ‘part timer’ in the form of Martin Botha could feel highly pleased to open the bowling and take 2-18 from his four overs the two wickets being county player James Southgate and much recognised representative player Hamza Qayyum.

Darmarajsingh Jhala was able to take advantage of a disastrous 19th over, from an Hemel point of view, that conceded 36 runs and took 16 balls to help himself to 50 and see Mymms to 189-6 from their 20 overs.

Hemel came out from the top, particularly in the form of Hem Ilangaratne, and had 100 from the first 10 overs. Hem scored 75 from 52 balls and was helped along with 22 from Josh Graves and 21 from Kashif Dalvi. But the momentum could not be maintained and Hemel ended at 176-7, 13 runs behind.

There was a second Chess Valley League Division 6 win on the troy for Hemel IIs.

Put in by St Albans on a wet wicket to start off with Hemel’s batsmen kept going with 28 from Ed Shaw, 27 from Owen McGinty driving it along. It took a bit of ‘oompf’ from skipper Dave Jenkins at the end with 64 alongside Jack Boughton (21*) to get Hemel up to 224-8. Then it was getting the wickets and St Albans started off quite strongly with good scores up the order.

Jack Boughton (2-53) chipped away, James Stroebel (2-34) chipped in but in the end St Albans tail fell away as Hemel bowled them out for 191 to win by 33 runs a secure four points in the league. Balinder Walia came on at the end and in his only over bowled the last batsman for a duck.