Sawbridgeworth move into Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League, Division One promotion places with win over Reed
Sawbridgeworth moved back up to second place in Saracens Hertfordshire League, Division One after demolishing league leaders Reed by 142 runs at Blacksmith’s Lane on Saturday (August 10), writes Richard White.
They outplayed their hosts from start to finish as they scored over 300 runs for the second successive week, piling up 311-7 from their 50 overs.
Joe Joyce finally found form away from home as he scored 58 off 67 balls, but he was outscored in his second-wicket partnership of 146 with Rehman Ahmed, who went on to top-score with 89 as he claimed his fifth half-century of the campaign.
Ahmed and skipper Alan Ison departed in the space of three balls as 199-2 became 203-4 before Charlie Rudkin (34) added 88 in 9.3 overs with Rob Sanders, who struck a majestic 87 off 57 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.
The pair helped Sawbo to their second-highest away total in league cricket as they took full advantage of a depleted Reed attack, missing their new-ball pairing of Toby Fynn and Jack Tidey.
Reed’s reply began in dramatic fashion with Kallum Ward being run out without facing by a superb direct hit from Ahmed off the first ball of the innings.
When George Kenny (1-20) cleaned up the other opener William Heslam, the hosts were 9-2 and wickets fell regularly thereafter as they were eventually dismissed for 169 in 37.4 overs.
Sayed Aziz (1-46) took a fine return catch to remove Charlie Walters (14) before Max Osborne ripped through the middle order as he was rewarded with season’s-best figures of 4-39.
Jack Caine top-scored for the hosts with 55no, but Julien Fynn departed to a direct hit from Aziz before Charlie Rudkin (2-29) took the final two wickets as Sawbo moved back into the promotion places.
In Division 5B, the second team slumped to their eighth defeat in a row as they lost to Greenwood Park by 46 runs.
Andrew Dongworth (3-46), Jack Dougall (3-28), Nick Dale (3-46) and Sam Shemwell (1-8) needed just 28.1 overs to dismiss the hosts for just 128.
However, Rhys Ashman (25) and Charlie Mann (33) were the only Sawbo players to reach double figures as they were all out for 88 in under 21 overs.
Despite suffering their 10th defeat in 13 outings, Harry Gale’s team gained three points on second-bottom Cheshunt Rosedale after claiming all 10 for dismissing their opponents and they are now 36 from safety.
The third team remain bottom of Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Division One after being thrashed by leaders Hatfield Heath by 219 runs.
Raji George hit 21 fours and nine sixes on his way to scoring an unbeaten 177 off 110 balls
for the table-toppers as he featured in an opening partnership of 308 with Chris Wearden (129), guiding them to 350-1 in 40 overs.
Skipper Adam Macdonald top-scored with 37 for Sawbo, who collapsed from 80-1 to 131 all out.
Dipu Vijayan (1-35), Aju Kizahakkedathu (3-26), Nitheesh Ds (2-26), VS Vijayakumari (3-7) and Saji George shared the wickets for the Heath, who remain top with 12 wins from 14 games. In contrast, Sawbo are now 17 points adrift of the dotted line with three games left to play.
