Haitel Patel and captain Will Heywood both hit half-centuries as newly-promoted Bishop’s Stortford II began the Saracens Hertfordshire League season with a 23-run home win over their Hertford counterparts on Saturday (May 11).
They made 255-7 from 50 overs before restricting their opponents to 232-7 as they made the perfect start to life in Division 2B at Cricketfield Lane.
Patel hit 60 and the skipper made 54 for the hosts, with support coming from Hugh Williams (30) and Richie Heywood (29).
James Woollerson (2-14) bowled well at the end of the reply as the visitors, who were only on 99-2 after 30 overs, increased their run rate before falling short.
The clubs also met in the Premier Division as the first team went down by four wickets at Hertford.
Stortford won the toss and made a good start with the bat as Sam Davis and Joe Hawkins (28) put on 62 for the first wicket.
Three quick wickets fell, but Tommy Burslem steadied the ship with Davis in an 81-run partnership before the latter was caught behind one run shy of his century.
Burslem added 26 with Dom Clutterbuck (16) and was out in the 50th and final over as the visitors were all out for 241.
In reply, Davis took two quick wickets and Matt Pike had Bailey Eustace caught behind by Hawkins as Hertford slipped to 48-3.
But a fine innings from Jayden Broodryk, who struck 127, and a sensible 60 from Will Ray led to the hosts reaching their target with six wickets down in the 42nd over.
Stortford were also beaten by 31 runs at Radlett in the Readers Hertfordshire T20 on Sunday.
The hosts won the toss and had amassed 58 runs in the sixth over when Simon Lindop bowled captain Fraser Crawford (25).
Kabir Toor made 44 and Faris Haider got 34, but tight bowling from all five bowlers meant they closed on 131-5.
Stortford fell to 9-2 in reply before Ben Twohig (30) and Will Dommett (28) put on 55 together.
Dom Clutterbuck also chipped in with an unbeaten 17, but the away side were removed for 100.
The third team suffered a last-gasp two-wicket home defeat at the hands of Hockerill in the Tees Herts & Essex League, Premier Division.
The hosts made a bright start as openers Callum Sykes and Luke Humphrey scored 39 and 35 respectively.
Harry Barrett anchored the innings with 46 as Hockerill’s bowlers kept the runs in check, with Stortford finishing their 45 overs on 223-9.
Hockerill were 44-2 in reply before a crucial partnership was forged between Matt Clarke (52) and Brad Francis (53).
Jake Baker added 27 and Owen Warner got some quick runs as the visitors got to 227-8 with a ball to spare despite Ruan Premadasa (5-51) threatening to take the game away from them.
The fourth team gave it a good go before succumbing by 36 runs at Thaxted in Division One.
Home opener Stu Levey hit 66 to help his side make 219-9 as under-14 debutant Sam Braund snared 3-18.
Stortford made a disastrous start in reply as Thaxted’s opening bowler took 4-24.
Olly Sturrock - another under-14 debutant - got 66 and England over-70s player Simon Sargeant, 57 years his senior, made an unbeaten 57 as their partnership gave the visitors hope before they closed on 184-7.