Knebworth Park snatched a stunning win in their top of the table game with West Herts 2nd XI at Watford thanks to an amazing spell of bowling by Louis Champion.
In an inspired move by skipper Adam Sergeant at the 18-over drinks break, Champion swopped keeping gloves for his left arm to destroy the home team’s batting with the incredible figures of 8 for 18 in only 8.3 overs.
Seemingly cruising to victory at 103 for 2, they were chasing Knebworth’s 164 for 9, only to collapse to 147 all out and defeat by 17 runs.
It places second placed Park right on the heels of leaders West Herts by seven points in the Saracens Herts League Division 3a.
To cap a marvellous day for the club, the third and fourth teams completed a clean sweep of wins, while the seconds were without a fixture because of Bushey’s exit from the league.
The first team struggled for runs against West Herts, the division’s best bowling attack, where opening bowler Harry Wilcox 4 for 36 was outstanding. Only skipper Adam Sergeant 37 and Matt Hutchinson 21 got going as a series of loose shots reduced them to 96 for 6.
The tail then fought hard, led by a priceless 30 not out from Alex Richmond to haul the total towards being possibly competitive.
Importantly, a last wicket stand of 28 with No.11 Gareth Jones 10 not out proved crucial.
Jones continued his good work with the ball taking 1 for 22 in a handy opening spell.
But the impressive Misem Saidi 84 appeared to have the game under control.
The remarkable Louis Champion then began taking wickets at the other end before Saidi was brilliantly caught in the deep by Archie Stephens off the bowling of off spinner Hutchinson.
At 141 for 5 with 20 overs remaining and only 24 runs needed it would have taken a brave person to bet on a Knebworth win, but within five overs the last five wickets had succumbed for a mere six runs.
WAYNE LEADS THE WAY FOR THIRDS’ FIRST WIN
Knebworth Park 3s 258-6 (40) – London Colney 2s 182-10 (38.1)
A well-crafted 87 by opening bat Wayne Hunt set up a comfortable first win of the season for the Third eleven against London Colney 2s in the Saracens Herts League Div 9B.
They never looked back after skipper Jonathan Cirkel won the toss and chose to bat with the team having the rare privilege to play on the main square at The Park.
There was a flying start of 29 in the first four overs. After the loss of fellow opener Mark Woods, Hunt had a superb partnership of 106 with Kezia Hassall (58), her second successive half century.
Phil Wheeler 23 and Cirkel 31 then boosted the total to a respectable although possibly below par 258 for 6 on good batting track and rapid outfield.
After the visitor’s reply began rapidly, 53 coming from the first five overs, a fine all round team bowling and fielding performance bowled them out for 182 with Luke Mably 2-15, Mark Woods 3 for 30 and Cirkel 2-13 most successful.
FOURTHS ROMP TO VICTORY
The fourths romped to a quick win over Hitchin Sixths by eight wickets.
Juniors Jo Hibbins and Drew Myles had Hitchin 3 for 3 after 4 overs.
Then the experienced David Mantle’s pin point accuracy reduced Hitchin further taking 4 wickets for 16 whilst Drew Myles continued his impressive season ending up with for four runs. There was also time for regular wicket keeper Owen Hetherington to show his bowling talents with a couple of tidy overs!
With no player reaching double figures Hitchin limped to 33 all out after 15 overs.
Knebworth knocked off the required 34 runs thanks to an unbeaten 20 from under 14s Rafi Combarro and 14 not out from Eddie Mably, losing the wickets of Nick Banks and Ahmed Abdi along the way.
This win consolidates a top four place for
the fourths in division 12.
