Jake Carder century in vain as Bishop’s Stortford lose to Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League, Premier Division leaders Potters Bar
A blistering century from opener Jake Carder could not prevent Bishop’s Stortford suffering a 34-run defeat at home to table-topping Potters Bar on Saturday.
He struck 123 off just 118 deliveries at the top of the order, but his side came up short in the 50-over contest to remain fifth in the Saracens Hertfordshire League, Premier Division with three games remaining.
The visitors won the toss and, after a half-an-hour delay due to rain, put 287-7 on the board at Cricketfield Lane.
Their openers James Scott and James Seward were both caught behind by Joe Hawkins off the bowling of Sam Davis and Matt Pike respectively as they reached 85-2 after 19 overs.
Former Stortford batsman Reece Hussain was stumped off the bowling of Dom Clutterbuck for exactly 50 having put on 46 with Charlie Scott before another couple of wickets fell.
But the visitors’ Middlesex batsman Thilan Walallawita hit six fours and four sixes on his way to 62 off only 38 balls in a 92-run sixth-wicket stand.
Charlie Scott continued to bat well to remain unbeaten and one run shy of a century at the close of the innings. Clutterbuck ended with figures of 4-61 and Ben Twohig got the other wicket to fall.
Stortford started the reply well and were on 78 when Hawkins was caught and bowled by Walallawita for 41.
Fellow opener Carder continued and forged partnerships worth 55 with Jonny Gaffney (15), 32 with Twohig (9) and 46 alongside Joe Burslem (12).
Carder, who struck 14 fours and a maximum, was eventually stumped off the bowling of Walallawita (4-38) to leave Stortford 211-4.
They continued to match their opponents’ score up until the 43rd over when they ran out of firepower and were all out for 253 with two balls remaining.
Half-centuries from Haitel Patel and Richie Heywood helped the second XI win their rain-affected game at Potton Town by five wickets.
The Division 3A leaders chose to field after winning the toss and saw their opponents amass 289-7 from their 50 overs.
Home captain Sean Stevens led the way with 83 off 66 deliveries while David Humphrey added 57.
James Woollerson got 2-34 and there was a wicket apiece for Sam Howlett, Liam Mays, Harry Olorenshaw and Hugh Williams.
Patel and Matt Drury (38) put on 87 for the second wicket as Stortford’s reply began well before the first rain break came at 111-3.
Patel was caught behind for 65 with the score on 146 before Heywood brought up his 50 off just 26 balls.
Another pause for rain resulted in Stortford’s victory target being revised to 232 off 40 overs.
And Heywood, who remained undefeated on 72 off 39 deliveries, shared a 77-run stand with Mays (28) as the table-toppers reached 232-5 with 5.2 overs to spare.
The third XI recovered from a tricky start to thrash Abridge by 129 runs at home in the Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Premier Division.
The hosts were 68-4 before experienced pair Adrian Wacey (67) and Ruan Premadasa (80) put on 155 together as they made 268-9 from their 45 overs.
Abridge got off to a decent start in reply thanks to George Padfield’s 63, but Zach Ahmed (2-22) and Scott Hunt (4-4) caused them to collapse to 139 all out.
Callum Sykes made an unbeaten 80 as the fourth XI triumphed by six wickets at Bancroft Lion Hawks in Division Two.
Only former professional Carl Greenidge - son of West Indies legend Sir Gordon Greenidge - was able to do much against some tight bowling as he top-scored with 63 in the hosts’ 127 all out. Arthur Edwards (4-31) did much of the damage.
Stortford slumped to 15-3 in reply before Sykes’ belligerent knock ensured they reached 128-4 in only 18.3 overs.
