Knebworth Park round-up

Knebworth Park 129

Letchworth 121

HCPL Division 2E

Charlie Randall destroyed Letchworth to dramatically clinch an eight-run win for Knebworth.

The 18-year-old bagged 7-30 in 13.1 overs as the visitors’ batting had no answer to the left armer’s pace and swing that saw them bowled out for 121 in answer to Knebworth’s meagre total of 129.

The win keeps the Park in sixth place but closes the gap on the teams above with two games remaining.

Letchworth had seemed to be edging towards almost certain victory at 109-5 before their last five wickets collapsed for only 12 runs. Randall removed stubborn opener Tom Simmons for 58 and at the same score Sam McCrow also clean bowled Dave Albon for 21.

Although Letchworth captain Dominic Marsh fell soon after to Randall, the tension mounted as they inched closer to winning, before Randall dismissed Ed Morse and Richard Barclay to secure the win.

From the start of their run-chase Letchworth realised they had a tough struggle when Randall ripped out batsmen Dominic Chatfield and Simon Elliott, both without scoring, and then Steve March fell soon after.

From 69-5, Letchworth were building towards victory through the ever-patient Simmons and the aggressive Albon before Randall returned to the attack and promptly made the decisive breakthrough.

At the other end McCrow wheeled away stoically for 20 overs in taking 2-43, while Guy Warman took 1-43.

The Park’s batting performance was disappointing as all too often their batsmen unnecessarily gave away their wickets. At 60-2, they were going well when Louis Champion was run out for 15 by Chatfield’s direct hit.

Phil Simpson was again batting well until he was unlucky to fall to a bat pad catch for 36. Ryan Skeggs (16) and Alex Richmond (39) lifted the total to 98 before Skeggs fell to Marsh.

Richmond continued to show patience, tempering his natural instinct to attack while at the other end his partners added little to the total before falling victim to the left arm accurate swing of Andy Newland who took 3-32 in his 19 overs. And Marsh eventually ended Richmond’s innings and that of last man McCrow to finish with 4-59.

Knebworth Park II 223-2 dec.

Hemel Hempstead II 116

SHCL Division Two

KNEBWORTH Park second eleven outclassed Hemel Hempstead II to give themselves an outside chance of being Division Two champions.

Playing on their second pitch due to the first team also being at home, Knebworth won the toss and chose to bat on a good deck.

Colin Letford and Adam Turner opened up for Knebworth and commanded the Hemel bowling from the first over.

Hemel finally made an inroad into the Knebworth batting line up, be it a small one, by removing Letford for 62 with the partnership ceasing on 113.

Brendan Logue went to join Turner and together they kept the strong run rate going, slowly increasing it.

Logue then fell for 39 with the score on 208 with Turner still at the crease.

Junior d’Abreu joined Turner and assisted him to his 100, with Knebworth declaring on 223-2 off 44 over - Turner finally getting the ton that has been coming for him all season.

Turner couldn’t keep himself out of the action either, making a diving catch at gully off of Michael Fisher for the first wicket as Hemel had their reins pulled in from the start.

Jack Thorn, returning from holiday, picked up one for himself before Fisher got another, finishing his spell with figures of 2-20 from eight overs.

Tony Skeggs was then brought on with Hemel struggling on 64-3. He continued his fantastic form of late by rolling through the middle order, picking up four wickets for himself as Hemel only made 16 in that time.

At 90-7 it was only a matter of time, and after Shaun Robinson failed to find rhythm he brought on Graham Fisher who picked up a wicket after Hemel’s number seven swung from his hips at anything full.

Skeggs then finished the game off with two wickets in the final over, finishing his spell with figures of 6-16 from his nine overs.

Hemel succumbed to a loss by 107 runs as they were bowled out for 116.

With Flitwick failing to win, it leaves Knebworth 13 points shy of top spot and 17 clear of third, with the number of teams going up yet to be worked out.

With all to play for, Knebworth make the short trip this Saturday to their Welwyn Garden City counterparts looking for a win to keep the pressure on Flitwick.

Hoddesdon II 84

Knebworth Park III 88-2

SHCL Division Five

A blistering opening spell from Jo Elliott set the IIIs on course for victory against Hoddesdon II to maintain their promot6ion challenge in Division Five.

Bowling full and straight, Jo picked up six wickets from his seven overs with all either bowled or caught by keeper Tom Eaton.

With good support from brother Tom Elliott the pair had dismantled the home side’s innings before it had really began.

Tom picked up one wicket in his seven overs. Richard Leather and Bobby Crowe then swiftly cleaned up the tail as Hoddesdon’s innings closed on 84.

Hoddesdon’s attack was led by Terry Savanhu who is capable of generating reasonable pace.

However the young opening partnership of James MacDonald and Richard Leather settled immediately and began to chip away at the target.

MacDonald was first to go with around 50 runs required, and this brought Stuart Burford to the crease.

Hoddesdon gambled by turning to spin and Burford immediately dispatched the bowling all round the ground, including two mighty sixes.

All the while Richard Leather was batting beautifully at the other end, and while Burford was out just before the end Leather made 33 not out as the Park got home for the loss of just two wickets.

Knebworth Park IV 169-8

Old Owens II 170-9

The IVs suffered yet another agonisingly close defeat to the hands of Old Owens II.

After being put into bat by the home side Park lost the early wicket of Mark Turner with the score on 12. Then fellow opener Bret Painter (47) and captain Ian Woods (29) put on a partnership of 77 for the second wicket before both fell in quick succession along with Mark Folwell to some accurate bowling.

A good middle order partnership between Pete Bayford (23) and Ross Courtney (30) helped push the score up to 169-8 off their 53 overs.

On a tricky pitch the Knebworth’s bowlers started well with Courtney (2-42) making the early breakthrough before good spells of bowling from Gareth Jones (3-28) and Sandy Reynolds (3-34) gave the team a chance of victory, but the Old Owens batsmen were able to scrape through getting their total nine wickets down with only two overs to spare.

The Fourth’s still picked up 13 vital points in their continuing struggle to avoid relegation from Division Eight.

Knebworth Park V 205-8

Southgate Compton II 173

SHCL Division 11

The Fifths continued their rise up the table after a hard fought victory against Southgate Compton II.

Knebworth lost the toss and were inserted into bat and got off to a swift start with opener Lewis Hutchinson making 38.

Knebworth continued to score at a good rate with good contributions from number four Andy Martin (36), number six Paul Sheffield (34) and George Gibbings (20) allowing Knebworth to declare after 43 overs on 205-8.

Southgate in reply got off to a good start with Walker, their opening batsman scoring 63 to reach 88 with the loss of only one wicket.

Knebworth then fought back with all rounder Hutchinson taking a couple of wickets.

Southgate staged a mini revival to reach 153-5 before John Inman took 3-20 to reduce Southgate to 173-9 with Hutchinson taking the last wicket in the penultimate over to bowl the opposition out for 173 proving that captain Paul Sheffield’s early declaration was spot on.

Park VIs

Joel Curtis thumped his first century for several years with 101 in the Sixth team’s friendly against St Margaretsbury IV which they won by 85 runs.

Curtis who struck fours on a slow outfield was partnered by 12-year-old Ollie Laws-Mather who impressed on his senior debut in scoring 28 and keeping equally well as they racked up 191-9 off their 40 overs.

The elder statesman Nick Simpson with 0-17 off eight overs and skipper Eddie Large 1-15 off six overs put the home side behind the run-rate and then young leg-spinner Andrew Baird, also on his senior debut, took 2-5 as well as taking a smart catch and a direct-hit run-out.

Young seamers Matt Briars 3-29 and Tom Butler 1-14 shone as did Luke Chapman who took the last wicket to mark his debut and his birthday as Saints.