Bishop’s Stortford II go 23 points clear at top of Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division 2B by beating Potters Bar II
Will Heywood made 51 as Bishop’s Stortford II beat title rivals Potters Bar II to pull 23 points clear at the top of Saracens Hertfordshire League, Division 2B on Saturday (July 27).
They won the top-of-the-table clash by 29 runs away from home to strengthen their position at the summit with six games to play.
Stortford won the toss and progressed to 120-4 thanks to Haitel Patel (47) and Joe Burslem (44).
Captain Heywood then made a half-century with support from Henry Hawkins (18) and Joe Bunyan (19no) as Stortford posted 233-7 from their 50 overs.
Potters Bar were ahead of the required rate when opener Dan Millard was dismissed for 55 and wickets then fell regularly.
They needed 67 runs with four wickets and 15 overs remaining and Owen Millard (44no) appeared to be getting them towards the winning post.
But the second-placed side were removed for 204 in the 45th over with Joe de Souza (4-39) being the main wicket taker.
There were also wickets for James Wollerson (3-46), Bunyan (2-23) and Adam Bassingthwaighte (1-0).
In the Premier Division, Sam Davis produced an exceptional knock of 152 as the first team secured a winning draw with their Potters Bar counterparts at Cricketfield Lane.
He and fellow opener Tom Howes put on 70 for the first wicket, with Davis bringing up his 50 off 45 balls. He continued to bat superbly and reached his century off 111 deliveries just before lunch.
Will Cutlan-Smyth (30) was caught behind immediately after the break before overseas Alex Ross (45) and Davis entertained the crowd with a 94-run stand.
A few more wickets fell before Davis was given out having racked up 152 runs off 159 balls. His fine knock on not the easiest of wickets included 22 fours.
Stortford were all out for 274 in the 60th over with Jigar Metha and Tilan Walallawita claiming three scalps apiece.
Potters Bar opener Steve Gale was caught by Max Sanderson off the bowling of Simon Lindop (1-29) in the second over of the reply before James Seward (40) and Reece Hussain (66) moved the score along to 77-1.
James Scott (35) and Walallawita (22) also had a lively partnership as they chipped away at the target before the latter was out to a spectacular running catch from Ben Twohig for 22.
Ashleigh Cox added 30, but Potters Bar closed on 243-9 from 56 overs. Dom Clutterbuck ended with 3-71, Twohig got 3-61 and Ross claimed 2-24.
Stortford banked 16 points on the day, but have slipped to second from bottom and occupy the relegation play-off place.
Hugh Williams carried his bat for 141 as the third team clinched a dramatic six-wicket win off the final ball of the game at Stansted Hall & Elsenham.
The hosts batted first in the Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Premier Division contest and amassed 264-7 from 47 overs.
Rory McGurk (40) and James Brown (73no) were the pick of the batsmen while Ollie Foot and Andrew Barber took two wickets each.
Adrian Wacey made 48 for the visitors and Williams made a century before captain Ruan Premadasa hit the winning run right at the death to ensure Stortford reached 265-4.
The fourth team lost by seven wickets at home to table-topping Hatfield Heath in Division One.
Stortford made a creditable 216-9 against the league leaders as skipper Fred Hussain scored 82 and George Howes got 36. Raji George and Priyan Shanmuga took three wickets apiece.
Hatfield Heath were never in trouble in the run chase as knocks from Samil Kamat (45), Chris Wearden (86) and George (78no) got them to 217-3 with six overs to spare.
