Bishop’s Stortford were involved in their first draw for almost three years when they entertained West Herts in the Saracens Hertfordshire League, Premier Division on Saturday (June 22).
They closed on 188-5 after the visitors had amassed 256-4 from 59 overs at Cricketfield Lane.
Stortford, whose last draw came in July 2021, lost the toss on a drizzly morning and were asked to bowl. In order not to reduce the overs, the tea interval was removed and there was just one break between the two innings.
West Herts made a slow start and were only on 77-2 at the midway stage, with a wicket apiece for Simon Lindop and Sam Davis.
Visiting captain Cole Seggery (109) and overseas Callum Taylor (86) then produced a 151-run partnership before the former was caught on the boundary by Joe Burslem off the bowling of Dom Clutterbuck.
The away side also added 62 runs off their last six overs for the loss of one wicket, taken by Ben Twohig.
Tom Howes opened the batting in Stortford’s reply as Davis was injured and when he was adjudged lbw for 31 his side were 65-3.
Joe Hawkins and Twohig took things forward thanks to an 81-run stand before the former was caught for 45 and, four overs later, the latter was stumped having hit 58 off 54 balls.
Tommy Burslem (11no) and Will Dommett (21no) then batted out Stortford’s remaining nine overs.
The table-topping second team made it six wins out of seven as they triumphed by seven wickets at Knebworth Park in Division 2B.
The visitors opted to bowl after winning the toss and saw the hosts produce partnerships worth 74 and 83 in their 50-over total of 231-7.
Zach Ahmed and Joe de Souza got two wickets apiece and there was one each for Harry Pigram and Will Nutt.
Stortford made an excellent start to their run chase as openers Haitel Patel and Joe Bunyan put on 109 before the former was stumped for 48.
Bunyan continued and carried his bat for an unbeaten 82 as he and captain Will Heywood (56no) guided their side to 232-3 with nine overs to spare.
The third team suffered a 62-run defeat at Little Hallingbury in the Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Premier Division.
Arthur Edwards and Will Lambert took three wickets apiece in the hosts’ 246-8, with Amit Kalyankar and Rishabh Dixit both making 39.
Adrian Wacey struck 36 in the visitors’ reply, but he could not prevent them being removed for 184.
A poor batting performance on a good wicket cost the fourth team as they went down by nine wickets at home to Braughing in Division One.
Ranveer Garcha amassed 54, but his team-mates struggled to build on a good start and the hosts closed on 164-9.
Braughing made light work of the run chase as Conal Gridley (64no) and Oran Riddle (62no) both made half-centuries to steer them to 165-1 with nine overs to spare.