Ben Twohig and Sam Davis both hit half-centuries as Bishop’s Stortford produced a fantastic effort in a losing cause at home to Harpenden in the Saracens Hertfordshire League, Premier Division on Saturday (May 18).
More than 650 runs were struck for the loss of 13 wickets in a great 50-over match at Cricketfield Lane, with the strong visitors ultimately triumphing by 30 runs.
Stortford captain Tommy Burslem elected to field after winning the toss and, after the start was delayed due to the damp ground, Simon Lindop had Scott Galloway stumped by Joe Hawkins with the score on 49 in the seventh over.
This brought New Zealander Cole Briggs to the crease and he hit 102 off just 78 balls - 72 runs came in boundaries - before being brilliantly caught by Will Dommett off the bowling of Matt Pike having put on 152 with opener James Latham.
Latham was bowled by Dom Clutterbuck, who ended with three wickets, for 65 with the score on 223 and then two quick wickets fell.
But Harpenden batted deep and an 82-run partnership between Andrew Neal (58no) and Usman Malik (48) helped them post 344-6.
In reply, Stortford openers Davis and Hawkins put on 112 for the first wicket before the latter was caught behind for 35.
Twohig joined Davis, who was out soon after for a fine 76, and then batted superbly as he and Joe Burslem (23) put on 113 for the third wicket.
The hosts were on 242 in the 40th over and Twohig was caught on the boundary for 92 off just 60 balls as his brilliant innings came to an end.
Two more wickets fell with the score unchanged before a quick cameo of 21 off 11 balls from Pike had the home crowd cheering.
Tom Howes (25no off 19) and Clutterbuck (16no off 12) took the score to 314-7 as Stortford came up 30 runs short of the target.
Thesecond team succumbed by six wickets at their Flitwick counterparts in Division 2B.
The visitors were put into bat and slumped to 87 all out. Hugh Williams hit 30 and there were 18 wides.
Richie Heywood (2-42) was the pick of the bowlers as the home side reached 88-4 in 21 overs.
Thethird team were 17-run winners at Farnham in the Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Premier Division.
Adrian Wacey top-scored with an unbeaten 43 for the visitors as they posted 162-6 from their 45 overs.
The hosts were looking good at 72 without loss in reply as opener Peter Curtis made 49,
But Stortford’s bowlers got on top as Joe Clune took 3-30 and Thorley were removed for 145. There were two wickets apiece for Andrew Barber and skipper Ruan Premadasa.
Thefourth team went down by 31 runs when they entertained Stansted in Division One.
Rob Lawson (93) and Matt Cope (24) piled on the runs for the visitors before captain Fred Hussain and new recruit Vijay Longanathan took three wickets each.
Stansted still ended with 226-7 from 40 overs, with Blair Gardiner adding an unbeaten 46.
In reply, Hussain (65) and Simon Sargent (39) steadied the ship after the loss of three quick wickets.
But Stortford were always behind the required run rate and they ended on 195-6 despite a quick 33no from Ant Foster and an undefeated 14 from under-14 Sam Braund.