DIVISION THREE: Ickenham 178 (10pts) beat Hornsey 155 (0pts) by 23 runs
A BOLD decision to bat first on a surprisingly damp wicket paid off as Ickenham registered their first league win of the season at the fifth time of asking.
Jamie Taylor sent in his openers against a Hornsey side which had come out comprehensively on top by 92 runs when they met in the Evening Standard Trophy a month ago and at tea he might have been regretting his decision.
Ian Gregory (4-61) and Joel Gregory (4-40) enjoyed the conditions and Ickenham's final total of 178 all out from 46 overs would have been a lot worse had it not been for an excellent innings of 73 from Paul Sims.
At that stage supporters could well have assumed a similar result to the cup competition but it was a positive team that took to the field and veteran Jerry Nightingale gave his teammates two reasons to rejoice as he struck twice in the opening four overs to let Hornsey know they were in a contest.
In fact, had it not been for minor recoveries by Hornsey for their fourth and ninth wickets Ickenham's 23-run win, which took them up to fifth in the table, would have been more emphatic.
Chetan Patel was stranded on 52 not out at the close as Ickenham and David Gibson (4-43) in particular whittled away at the other end. [25a0] Excellent seam bowling by Arul Iyer, Chris Lupton and especially Paul Smith (5-39) laid the platform for the second team to record a winning draw against Kenton.
Kenton were restricted to 42 for three from 30 overs before hard hitting to the restricted boundaries saw the host recover to post a very respectable 235 for nine.
Berti and Burrows made a good start to the chase before Berti fell to the first spinner to be introduced but Burrows (76) and Cook (44) added 91 for the second wicket to put Ickenham well on course for victory, until a small tumble of wickets saw them falter and they had to settle for a winning draw in their very last over, finishing on 201 for eight.
* The thirds somehow squandered a seemingly impregnable position after dismissing visitors Acton for just 65.
Youngsters Zaid Siddiq (3-30) and Craige Liquorish (4-20), ably supported by Rohit Mehra (3-13), saw Acton dismissed within 20 overs but Ickenham also made batting look difficult and with the exception of Ed Houghton (31) they were mesmerised by Peter Lawla (6-33 from 16 overs). Despite that Ickenham should still have won but in the end a wandering number 11 batter was run out to hand Acton victory by just one run.
* Batsmen dominated a friendly with Harefield but after Dean Waller (74) had Ickenham on course for 300 in the 45-over clash they were bowled out for 214. And 300 was what was required as Paul Collett (55) and Fraser Wilson (79 not out) took Hare-field to an easy seven-wicket victory with nearly 10 overs remaining.
Barnet Bs 159-8 (10pts) beat Uxbridge 158 (0pts) by two wickets LOWER order resistance and a determined effort with the ball were not enough to spare Uxbridge from their second defeat of the season as they lost a tense game by two wickets at home to Barnet Bs.
The sides were heading for an early finish after Uxbridge elected to bat and quickly slumped from 32 without loss to 79 for seven.
Only openers Andre Jason (14) and Nick Hardy (11), and Bal Mangat (27) reached double figures among the top seven batsmen.
The fightback then began as Ryan Connor (11), Andrew Stephens (29 from 18 balls), Steven Wright (10) and Graham Lines (17 not out) added 68 for the last three wickets, with Stephens and Lines putting on 46 for the 10th wicket alone to lift Uxbridge to 158 all out.
Wright then accounted for both Barnet openers on his way to four for 49 and Lines (4-54) got in on the act too, to give Uxbridge real hope as Barnet slipped to 48 for five.
However, Barnet found similar backbone from their middle and lower order and after Uxbridge reduced the visitors to 121 for eight they had no further joy out of Andy Kemp (14 not out) and Patrick Blair (33 not out).
* A disciplined effort with the bat gained the thirds a point from their game with bottom side Bessborough.
Uxbridge made the perfect start with a run out from the first delivery after putting the hosts into bat but
Rahul took the game away with an unbeaten 149 in a total of 276 for four from 50 overs.
Bryan Winson (2-45 from 14 overs) and Peter Parfitt (1-20 from six) were the pick of the bowlers.
Uxbridge lost three early wickets with Atif Aussaf,Zabi Maqsoodi and Nav Suleman going cheaply to leave their side on 30 for three but Winson (43) and Rob Darvill (39) put on 80 together and Darvill and Nick Dowsett (29 not out) then saw Uxbridge to safety at 167 for five.
The result left Uxbridge in third with unbeaten league leaders Richmond to visit Park Road on Saturday.
DIVISION TWO: Radlett II 58-6 (30pts) beat Northwood Town 57 (6pts) by four wickets
A GAME that yielded only 115 runs but 16 wickets ended in defeat for North-wood Town at home to highly fancied Radlett II.
Town won the toss but not much else went right as they elected to bat and were immediately exposed by the pace of Brown and Cameron, who enjoyed a strangely unpredictable Chestnut Avenue wicket.
The hosts collapsed to 19 for five with their cause not helped by three highly dubious decisions, before Phil Costard, on his return to the club from Ickenham, knuckled down with Dean Barker.
Barker went on to top score with just 12 and with Costard he doubled the total, but with Radlett's strong appealing continuing to win decisions Town crumbled to 57 all out in 29 overs.
Town used the conditions to their own advantage to reduce Radlett to 14 for four but the hosts had strong appeals rejected at crucial times.
Two more wickets left the visitors in a precarious position at 39 for six yet Jackson eased Radlett home without further damage.
Dave Bushnell (4-21) and Richard Doling (1-37) produced a really good display of bowling but 57 was never going to be enough to defend.
Skipper Raj Ahluwalia said: "In truth the game was spoilt by a poor wicket and other elements but Radlett are a very strong side.
"You need a bit of luck and strong performances to beat sides like this but we were second best and I suspect they will be promoted come the end of the season."
* Town's second XI were defeated in another low scoring game which went down to the last over.
Stand in skipper Ben Rawson-Jones won the toss and elected to bat but poor shot selection saw the visitors slump to 14 for three, before Rawson-Jones led the comeback with a quick-fire 37 until getting himself out.
Jamie Cotton (30) and 14-year-old Jonno Armitage (36) batted with great maturity and fluency to take the side to 116 for five but a lower order slump saw Town bowled out for just 145.
A fiery opening spell from Neal Furmenger put Eversholt's top order on the back foot, although they were well placed at 66 for three until Cotton picked up three quick wickets to leave them at 110 for seven and the game was in the balance.
However, Town could only claim one more wicket and Eversholt sealed a two-wicket win with just one over to go.
Furmenger bowled a marathon spell of 17 overs, finishing with four for 28.
Rawson-Jones said: "We really needed one of our experienced batsman to build a big innings.
"However, Jamie and Jonno batted tremendously which bodes well for the future.
"Neal bowled superbly and if a couple of decisions had gone his way I think we could have snatched victory."
