Sawbridgeworth suffer second successive defeat at home to Leverstock Green in Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League

Sawbridgeworth suffered a second successive league defeat at home to Leverstock Green as they slipped to fifth place in Saracens Hertfordshire League, Division One on Saturday (July 20), writes Richard White.

Deprived of the services of no fewer than five regular senior players – including their new-ball pairing of George Kenny and Charlie Rudkin plus captain Alan Ison – their makeshift line-up performed admirably and did well to pick up 14 bonus points in the three-wicket reverse.

Max Osborne (64 off 50 balls) and Joe Joyce (32) got the home side off to a wonderful start as they raced to 96 without loss in the 14th over before they quickly slipped to 105-4 as Adam Thomas (5-45) took four wickets for one run in 12 deliveries.

Sayed Aziz (12) and Luke Garratt (20) took the score to 142 before Green skipper Troy Henry struck twice in successive balls at the start of a spell that saw him claim 4-20.

Matt Billings, who scored 38 on his 150th league appearance for Sawbo, helped the hosts scramble to 201 as they were all out in 44.3 overs.

In reply, Osborne (4-55) and Aziz took two early wickets as they reduced the visitors to 69-4 before Henry (37) joined Kamario Grant (56no) for what proved to be a match-winning fifth-wicket partnership of 112.

Sam Shemwell (1-17) did break the stand by taking a return catch to dismiss Henry to claim his first wicket at this level, but the visitors reached 204-7 in the 43rd over as Sawbo also conceded 48 extras.

There were mixed emotions for skipper Harry Gale after he scored his maiden league century in the second team’s 91-run defeat at Northwood II in 5B.

He hit an unbeaten 108 out of his side’s total of 213 after he had taken two wickets earlier in the day as the home side had piled up 304-7 off their 50 overs.

Opener Keith Watson (87) and Nilesh Patel (91) scored half-centuries for the home side, with Sawbo gifting more extras (52) than their first-team counterparts.

Andrew Dongworth took 1-18 in his 10 overs and Tommy Hamilton got 2-44 before scoring 34 with the bat, but he was the only other player in the visitors’ batting line-up to pass 20. Despite the heavy defeat, they also picked up 14 bonus points to remain seventh.

The third team were involved in their second thrilling encounter of the season with Thorley as the latter avenged May’s six-run loss with a two-wicket win in Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Division One.

After dismissing the visitors for 134, they reached 137-8 in the 32nd over with Jonathan Cooper top-scoring with 43.

Harry Frans (3-27) and Romesh Paktsun (2-31) were pick of the bowlers for Sawbo, who are six points above the relegation zone.