Cricket round:up: Dacorum clubs bring the 2014 season to a close

> Leverstock Green

The champagne flowed on Saturday for Leverstock Green II after they sealed the Herts League Division Five title with an emphatic victory at Knebworth Park III.

In fact, all three Green teams in league action secured important victories for a variety of reasons.

Batting first for only the third time all summer, Dayle Littlejohn’s team had the championship in their own hands going into the game seven points clear of nearest rivals Harpenden III.

Jamie Wallis hit 43, Luke Weston added 40 and there was 31 each from David Coulshed and skipper Littlejohn as Green posted 183 all out.

It was a score which was to prove well out of reach for already-relegated Knebworth – especially so after a season’s best spell of devastating seam bowling from Abbas Ali. His five wickets for eight runs set the tone for the innings as the hosts were skittled for just 60, allowing Levy’s celebrations to begin.

Elsewhwere, Levy Green I preserved their Division Two status with just two balls of the season to spare.

The Herts League divisions are splitting into a 10-team home and away structure next summer, so Levy needed to beat County Hall at Bedmond Road to remain above the dotted line drawn across the middle of the divisional standings.

Inserted by Green captain Dave Tyson, Hall’s number eight Rob Mitchell made a fine 45 not out as they posted an awkward 162-8 from their 53 overs.

Majid Khan was the pick of the home team’s bowlers with 4-25 from an excellent 13-over spell.

In reply, Levy were always in hand on the run rate but wickets fell around opener Brad Klosterman – who made a fine 62.

Tyson, in at number seven, witnessed the fall of the sixth wicket with the score at 109 and was left to play one of the summer’s key innings.

Supported by the Green tail-enders, skipper Tyson added further to his legendary status – and his 14,000 runs over more than 30 years at The Green – by striking the last over’s fourth ball for a boundary to end on 35 not out and bring up a vital 30 points.

Meanwhile, Levy Green III’s win at Rickmansworth III banished any lingering Division Nine relegation worries; Stuart Evans (43) and Chrishan Casey (28) the chief contributors to a score of 163 all out.

Vice-captain Brett Baney brought up a half-century of wickets for the campaign as he shared Ricky victims equally with off-spinner Matt Lake.

Seamer Baney took 5-25 – figures bettered by Lake who took care of the Ricky tail to record 5-20 as Green won by 54 runs.

The fourth XI were in friendly action at home to Rosslyn, with the Barnet-based side posting a daunting 228 from their 40 overs.

In reply, teenager Wasim Salem scored a dogged 28 and skipper Mark Pearson hit 22 to end a relatively successful summer with a flourish as Green fell well short of the target.

> Kings Langley

Kings Langley II finished their season on a losing note, going down by seven wickets to Herts League Division Six champions Reed II.

Kings elected to bat first but could only manage a modest total of 197 all out. Tony Morton top scored with 39, with Richard Whitlock (33) and Josh Oldham (24 n/o) also chipping in with reasonable knocks.

Reed, knowing a win would secure top spot and promotion, set about chasing down their target with relish and secured the win in the 41st over. Duane Smith took all three wickets to fall for Kings.

Elsewhere, Kings Langley III lost their last league game of the season by 74 runs at the hands of Greenwood Park in Division Nine.

Kings elected to bowl first and were left to rue that decision as Greenwood Park scored 257-7.

All of the Kings bowlers suffered at the hands of their visitors, with Tim Gould taking 3-45 and Phil Robinson finishing with 3-85.

Kings got their reply off to a good start with openers Rich Davis (48) and David Burnell (39) scoring well, but when they were dismissed, only Tom Templeton (24) and Tim Gould (21) made other notable scores and they were dismissed for 183 in 45 overs.

> Berkhamsted

Berkhamsted I recorded a final-over win against already promoted Datchworth to round off a stunning second half of the season in which they won nine games in a row.

Their hot streak saw Berkhamsted finish a creditable sixth, having been bottom of the table in early June.

Batting first, Berko quickly lost Andrew Joyce, but a fine stand between Gareth Preedy (45) and Jez O’Neill (86) set the foundations for a big score.

Telling contributions followed with a fine 65 from Luke Frey and a breezy 24 from Chad Fortune, leaving skipper Dave Smith to declare on 260-5 which was a wise decision as Berko needed the extra overs later.

In reply, Rob Prunty bowled well and took the opener for only six runs, Fortune took the number 3 cheaply, and Berko looked odds-on for an early finish.

However, the other opener stood firm, and a good fourth-wicket stand was ended by Josh Roberts.

With overs running out, Berko still needed to take wickets, and with help from a run out, the final wicket fell on the penultimate ball of the match.

Player of the season was later announced and awarded to club coach Riaz Richards and his 48 wickets this season

Berkhamsted II, meanwhile, played host to Reed III for their final game, determined to finish on a high after last week’s defeat ended hopes of promotion.

However, bowling first, Berko struggled to contain and take wickets, with the Reed top four amassing 200 runs between them.

A good fight-back at the end of the innings saw Berko take seven wickets for only four runs, leaving Reed with a total of 217.

In reply, Berko lost David Kennedy and Ian Merret early, but young colt keeper Jack Filer stepped up to the plate and looked at ease at the crease.

In poor light, Filer brought up his maiden century for the club to wild applause from the pavilion.

His 115 proved to be the match winner, with good support from Ian Putman (37) and Nick Williams (20) helping the side to a three-wicket victory with two overs to spare. The Berko II player of the season was seamer Toby Gribbin.

> Hemel Town

It was not the greatest of ends to the season for Hemel Town II as they were rolled over by Dacorum neighbours Northchurch I.

The main man for Northchurch was Darren James who bowled through for them and returned figures of 7-54 from his 23 overs.

Tom Elborn was the only Hemel batsman to score any major runs in the innings with 40, while next nearest was Billy May with 19.

A couple of early wickets for Hemel saw Northchurch at 16-2 but then Tom Garraway (65 n/o) and Steve Bateman (28 n/o) saw Northchurch home.

There is nothing like keeping it tight for Hemel Town III as they won by one wicket with one ball to go last week, and followed that with another one-wicket win on Saturday.

The result against Wheathampstead II meant they ended up fifth in Herts League Division Five, 31 points off promotion.

Batting first, Wheathampstead felt the force of seamer Adam Moulster who ran through them to return figures of 7-42.

The top order for Hemel then struggled, with only Ram Hussain (23) making double figures in the top-six batsmen.

Then it was down to Ed Langley (42) and Andy Turbutt (22) to get Hemel close until last wicket pair Rory Fraser (15 n/o) and Adam Moulster (4 n/o) saw the team home.

It was a close run thing as Hemel Town IV just managed to avoid relegation from Division Eight by four points.

A high scoring defeat to Broxbourne III was enough to keep them safe as Hemel got the necessary bonus points.

Batting first, Hemel made 208-9 from their 53 overs, as Mike Samuels top scored with 41 and all the top order contributed – including 35 from Dave Jenkins and 31 from Gus Scott-Morriss.

In reply, Broxbourne openers Tim Pedler (66) and Steve Humphries (105) set about the Hemel bowling to go for the win and ensure top spot in the table.

> Abbots Langley

Abbots Langley I finished their season on a high with another win against already relegated Redbourn.

Batting first, departing Aussie Jimmy Davies was the star for Abbots as he signed off with a sparkling 77.

He was assisted by Steve Wallis (43) and Blesson Ghoghe (34) to take Abbots to a commanding 238-6 before they declared after 49 overs.

Although Redbourn were always going for the win, they found Abbots skipper Mat Dunstone in fine form, as he took an impressive 7-56 to finish the league season with 53 wickets. He, along with Wallis (2-45) took Abbots to an impressive win.

Abbots Langley II lost their fifth game in a row as they went down by 25 runs to Redbourn II.

Lewis Hodgins finished the season with a flourish, taking 4-48, and along with fellow youngster George Aguis (3-19) Redbourn were restricted to 182.

Dave Carlisle then rolled back the years with a fine 44 and, along with Mark Bishop (22) and Kuldip Hayer (32), kept Abbots in the game.

Unfortunately no one else got going as the Abbots innings petered out to 157.

Abbots Langley III had a last game to forget, as they fell to their heaviest defeat of the season.

Batting first, Little Berko Sahibs battered Abbots bowlers all over the park to post 249-5, with only Anish Khiroya (4-64), escaping any punishment.

Harry Khan (24) and Reza Khan (11), were the only players then to get into double figures as Abbots were rolled over for 76.

> Bovingdon

Bovingdon played Langleybury III on Saturday, and the winner would take all and march into a higher division for next Season.

Langlebury batted first and completed their overs, but after some fine, disciplined bowling and fielding from Bovingdon as a unit, Langleybury were restricted to 138-7.

The sun came out for the second innings and Bovingdon made light work of their target, reaching 139-3 in just 30 overs.

The openers, Buttleman and Arnold, set the tone with a partnership of 60 and Baxter and Stickland added the gloss with some fine big hitting to reach the set target and spark jubilant scenes amongst the Bovingdon players and fans.