Ben Twohig and Billy Mead both made centuries and formed a partnership of 186 for Bishop’s Stortford against Flitwick in Herts Cricket Premier League
Ben Twohig and Billy Mead both made centuries and formed a partnership of 186, but it was not enough to give Bishop’s Stortford victory over Flitwick in a high-scoring Hertfordshire Premier League match which saw a total of 574 runs.
Stortford won the toss in the Premiership Division fixture on an oppressive day at Cricketfield Lane on Saturday and found themselves in trouble at 21-3 in the ninth over after an excellent spell of bowling from Flitwick’s opener Oscar Phillips, who took all three wickets for six runs.
Mead was joined at the crease by Twohig and they batted exceptionally, piling on the runs, with both reaching their hundreds in style.
With the score on 207-3, Mead was caught and bowled by Joe Lowe for a brilliant 107. Twohig continued in a 74-run partnership with Joe Burslem before the latter was caught behind for a run-a-ball 27.
In the final over, Twohig was caught on the boundary for a very impressive 148, including 16 fours and five sixes, his maiden Herts Premier League century. Stortford finished on 297-7 from their 60 overs.
In reply, Flitwick started relatively slowly and both openers were dismissed by Sam Davis, leaving the visitors 73-2 in the 19th over.
Overseas player Hasim Ibrahim, who has an average in Herts league games of 129, batted sensibly, with support from George Thurstance (36) and Harry Thurstance (37), and the score was 156-3 from 38 overs.
The run rate increased, with Ibrahim finishing on 133 not out and Flitwick reaching the required total for a winning draw in the final over, but falling 21 runs short of a win as they finished on 277-6 from 55 overs.
Pick of the Stortford bowlers was Dom Clutterbuck, who bowled outstandingly and took 4-14.
Stortford are seventh in the 10-team table with 116 points, just 22 behind third-placed Totteridge Millhillians. Harpenden, with eight wins in eight, lead on 210 with Radlett second on 180.
In Division 2A, Stortford II won the toss at Old Elizabethans and elected to field but ultimately lost by 64 runs.
Wickets fell regularly to leave the hosts on 136-5, but Charlie Busby, batting at eight, scored an unbeaten 62 and with the help of 55 extras OEs reached 257-9 from their 50 overs. Travis Hussain was the main wicket taker with 5-57.
After Hussain’s early dismissal, Tom Howes (55) and Haiti Patel (36) put on 90 for the second wicket, but the only further resistance came from James Frans (27) and Matt Fisk (37no) as Stortford were all out for 193.
In the Tees Herts and Essex Border League, Premier Division, Stortford III lost to Abridge by two wickets in a high-scoring game.
Mark Green made 49 and Ben Warren 61 in Stortford’s total of 269-9, with Daryl Wood taking 3-53 for the visitors.
Abridge responded well, with opener Will Hammond making 54, but a brilliant spell from under-15 spinner Sam Braund (4-22) set up a tense finish and Abridge just got home with 270-8.
In Tees HEBL Division One, Stortford IV’s innings away to Stansted started poorly but was rescued by Simon Sargent (50no) and Ophir Diemaker (34no), who saw the visitors to 202-6. Ben Baker took 3-32 for Stansted.
Danni Eckley bowled well at the start, taking 3-29 to put pressure on Stansted, but 50 from P Devotti and 49no from D Elliott ensured a home win by five wickets as the hosts reached 203-5.
