HOME COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION TWO WEST

Harefield 230-6

Gerrards Cross 168

Harefield won by 62 runs

CHAMUNORWA Chibhabha smashed an unbeaten 97 as Harefield saw off Gerrards Cross on Saturday.

Chibhabha came agonisingly close to his century but simply ran out of time as Harefield ran out winners by a 62-run margin.

Harefield won the toss and elected to bat first, although it looked like a bad call when opener Simon Macey went for a duck off the bowling of Tom Hampton.

Matt Lench fared little better as he could only muster three and Poojan Vyas added a further 22 before going LBW after a tricky delivery from Daniel Hampton.

But then entered Chibhabha to rescue the innings, hitting 11 fours and a six on his way to a splendid undefeated 97 as he led the way at the crease.

Ollie Richards went for 20 but his replacement Luc Baldwin formed a decent partnership with Chibhabha and finished just shy of his half-century on 46.

Lee Tyrrell came in and was run out after adding one more run as Harefield ended their innings on 230 for the loss of six wickets.

Gerrards Cross stepped into bat with confidence. Opening pair Hamza Taj (13) and Matt Watson (53) put on a combined total of 66 to get the ball rolling.

It was a promising start, but one that was not matched by the rest of the order as the Buckinghamshire side wilted in the heat.

James Hammerton (10), Daniel Hampton (11), Sam Westaway (17) and Tom Hampton were the only other batsmen to reach double figures for the visitors.

Tyrrell was largely responsible for restricting the flow of runs and took five wickets to cap a sensational afternoon with the ball for the Harefield man. Scott Morris took two and Chibhabha also claimed two wickets.

Harefield travel to Dinton this weekend and will be hoping for more of the same.