Bishop’s Stortford fall into Premier Division danger zone after defeat to Totteridge Millhillians
Bishop’s Stortford have three games left to haul themselves out of trouble after suffering a 123-run home defeat to Totteridge Millhillians on Saturday (August 17).
Victory for rivals Shenley Village over Hertford means Stortford are now second from bottom in the Saracens Hertfordshire League, Premier Division and occupy the relegation play-off place.
The visitors won the toss at Cricketfield Lane and chose to bat first, going on to amass 267-6 from their 50 overs.
Ex-professional Ned Eckersley and Jon Miles put on 70 together at the top of the order before the latter was caught by Joe Burslem for 29 to become the first of Dom Clutterbuck’s (3-52) victims.
New Zealander Will O’Donnell helped to push the score on to 125 at the halfway point when Alex Ross took a spectacular catch on the boundary to dismiss Eckersley for 65 off the bowling of Simon Lindop (1-50).
O’Donnell carried on, however, and was eventually out in the final over for a run-a-ball 100.
The other wickets fell to Callum Sykes (2-48) and Ross (1-28).
Sam Davis scored 10 runs off the first over of the run chase, but Stortford soon found themselves 42-3.
Tom Howes and Ben Twohig dug in and produced a 50-run partnership before the former was run out and then both Henry Hawkins and Twohig (36) were out lbw with the score on 93.
Joe Burslem added 26 before being stumped at the start of the 33rd over as the hosts were removed for 144.
The second team cruised to a nine-wicket triumph at Rickmansworth as they moved 63 points clear at the Division 2B summit.
The table-toppers, who lost the toss, dismissed their hosts for 127 with all six bowlers making contributions.
Joseph de Souza led the way with 3-40, Richie Heywood got 2-31, Joseph Bunyan claimed 2-13 and there was a wicket apiece for James Frans, Harry Pigram and Adam Bassingthwaighte.
In reply, Bassingthwaighte (34) was the only batsman to fall as Haitel Patel, who carried his bat for 20, and Will Cutlan-Smyth, who made an unbeaten 53 off 44 balls, got Stortford to 128-1 inside 23 overs.
The third team lost by 237 runs at Nazeing Common in the Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Premier Division.
The hosts scored an imposing 286-9 from their 45 overs with Ollie Foot taking 3-30 and two wickets each for Matt Pike, Daniel Laskey and Tom Waring.
The away side were then skittled out for just 49 in 17 overs as Michael Blair claimed 5-21.
Dropping six catches proved costly for the fourth team as they lost by five wickets at home to Sawbridgeworth III in Division One.
Jay Ward (65) and 15-year-old Cameron Krauth (50) made half-centuries, but Stortford struggled to accelerate and had to settle for 194-5 from 40 overs.
And Sawbo reached 197-5 in the last over thanks to Andrew Foster’s unbeaten 45 as the hosts were punished for not taking their chances in the field.
