Joe Joyce hits third century of the season as Sawbridgeworth beat St Margaretsbury in Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League
Sawbridgeworth moved to within 12 points of the Saracens Hertfordshire League, Division One promotion places after thrashing basement side St Margaretsbury by 176 runs at Town Fields on Saturday (August 3), writes Richard White.
Their sixth win of the campaign was again set up by opener Joe Joyce, who scored his third century of the season, hitting 127 off 132 balls with 18 fours after being dropped in the second over the day when he had made just four.
He shared an opening partnership of exactly 100 with Max Osborne (34) before adding a further 116 with Rehman Ahmed (77).
The latter put on 67 for the third wicket with skipper Alan Ison, who smashed a whirlwind half-century off just 29 deliveries.
The home side went on to amass 316-6 off their 50 overs before completing their second-biggest league win in their history one delivery into the 36th over of the Bury reply as the visitors were all out for 140.
Michael Burrell (3-28) and Sayed Aziz (3-34) did the main damage for the hosts. George Kenny (1-27), Joyce (1-8), Matt Billings (1-24) were also on target along with Joe Holland, who wrapped up the game by claiming his maiden first-team league wicket in what was his 100th first’s league appearance for Sawbo. He had only bowled three overs in his previous 99 games – a sequence that began in his first of three spells at the club in September 1995.
The result moves Sawbo up to fourth place in the table and next they travel to leaders Reed, who are 27 points ahead of them.
In contrast, the second team suffered a seventh successive 5B defeat as they lost to a Cheshunt Rosedale side who had only won once this season.
After electing to bat first, Sawbo were all out for 111 in just 27.2 overs with Rhys Ashman (27) and skipper Harry Gale (22) being their only players to pass 20.
Although Alfie Burrell (2-28) removed both openers, the hosts completed an eight-wicket win at the start of the 18th over to move within 33 points of Sawbo, who remain winless since June 8.
The third team slipped to the foot of Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Division One as they lost to Braughing by five wickets.
Skipper Adam Macdonald struck 105 off 90 balls after sharing a club third-team league record of 190 with Charles Robinson (72) as the visitors piled up 254-7 from their 40 overs.
The game was in the balance with Braughing on 165-5 in reply, but Conal Gridley (34no) shared a sixth-wicket stand of 90 with Josh Scott (105no) as the hosts got home with nine balls to spare.
Harrison Weller took 2-18 in five overs on his league debut for Sawbo, who were also left to reflect on conceding 37 extras. They are now 11 points from safety with four games to play.
