Saracens Herts League cricket round-up Preston got back to winning ways thanks to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Hemel Hempstead seconds in Division Two. Losing the toss and asked to field first, Preston restricted Hemel to 82-2 after 30 overs. H

Saracens Herts League cricket round-up

Preston got back to winning ways thanks to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Hemel Hempstead seconds in Division Two.

Losing the toss and asked to field first, Preston restricted Hemel to 82-2 after 30 overs.

Hemel seemed ideally placed to accelerate their innings on what was a good wicket but steady bowling from the reliable Mark Waters, who bowled throughout the innings in picking up 6-79 from 26.5 overs, checked their progress.

He was ably supported by spinner Andy Riant (2-27 from his 11 overs) as the visitors were dismissed in the final over for 152.

Preston started sensibly with the bat as Hemel opened with the old ball and two spinners, restricting Preston to 59-1 in 20 overs.

Their reply was built around skipper Ashley Catlin's well-made undefeated 69, ably supported by the more aggressive Adam Shelley (33) and Dave Fleckney (36no).

Preston raced to victory for the loss of two wickets with 61 runs scored in the last 10 overs.

Ickleford climbed to the summit of Division Four after wrapping up their fourth win in a row, this time over Old Elizabethans.

After being asked to bat, Ickleford's Mark Schumann scored his second successive Herts League ton.

His 105 means the left hander has now collected 333 league runs in just five outings, at an average of 83.

The lower order had difficulty keeping him company, resulting in a slide to 188 all out from 42 overs.

In response, Steve Munnery struck twice early to leave the home side struggling.

Schumann added two wickets to his century and then the tail was exposed for Munnery and Brett Blaker to charge through.

Despite resistance from captain Patel, Ickleford were able to take the remaining wickets with Munnery picking up a superb 5-44 from 15 overs and Blaker returning 2-48 off 14.

Baldock were involved in a high-scoring Division Five run feast on a perfect wicket at Harpenden 3rds.

Harpenden strangely put Baldock into bat and almost immediately were made to pay as the Peacock brothers, James and Robert (33), put on 90 for the first wicket.

James went on to score his second century of the season while Giles Naylor murdered the change bowling with four huge sixes as his first four scoring shots!

The pair added a rapid 70 for the fourth wicket until James was finally out for an effortless 135 off 122 balls.

Naylor carried on before being caught for a brutal 61 off 44 balls as Baldock finally declared their innings at a huge 285-6 off 52 overs.

Harpenden made a rapid response at first but lost wickets at regular intervals and just hung on for the draw at 217-9 off 48 overs. Tim Dean was superb in returning figures of 6-61 from 20 overs and Logan Newman took 2-42 in a fine spell.

Preston seconds won on their travels to Cockfosters in Division Six.

The home side compiled 218 all out in 52 overs, Indika Samaraweera taking 5-49 in a marathon spell that deserved more.

In reply, Preston set about the task cautiously but the arrival of Indika, who hit a rapid 54, and newcomer John Garnham, with a majestic undefeated 88, produced a fine six-wicket victory.

Weston's victory attempts were frustrated against Wheathampstead 2nds in Division Eight.

They had 50 on the board inside just six overs as Julian Rudder took charge.

Rudder and George Lamprell cruised to a first wicket partnership of 163 off just 28 overs before losing Rudder for 104, his maiden century at senior level.

Lamprell (67) and Carl Richards (30) shared another good stand as Weston declared on 266-8 in the 50th over to claim maximum batting points.

The home side showed no ambition or adventure in chasing down their target and simply batted out for a tame draw, finishing on 142-4 at the close.

Ickleford Cricketers suffered a rare defeat at Cheshunt in Division Nine.

They were put into bat and got off to a great start with an opening stand of 85 between skipper Dave Pursey (43) and Kevin Shinner (26).

Cricketers then crumbled to a disappointing 163 all out with most batsmen contributing to their own downfall.

Cheshunt had 61 overs to get the runs and despite Dave Allen's 3-64 in two spells and an impressive spell of 2-41 in 18 overs from all-rounder Jon Hare, they won by four wickets.

Bragbury remain fourth in Division 10 after a crushing win against Northwood 3rds.

Northwood, batting first after winning the toss, got off to a reasonable start at 52-2.

Bragbury's first bowling change saw a spectacular collapse with Paul Titterington taking a best ever 6-16.

The Northwood innings came to an abrupt end in the 27th over for a disappointing 70 all out.

In reply Bragbury lost only two wickets and hit the winning runs in the 24th over. In-form opener Martin Fisher (17no) and top scorer Simon Wagstaff (30) scored the bulk of their runs.

Baldock seconds were on the wrong end of a draw against Letchworth 4ths.

Chris Lewis took 3-66 as Letchworth closed on an imposing 284-5.

Baldock collapsed to 36-5 before battling back to 172-8 to save the draw. Skipper Phil Lucy top scored with an unbeaten 36.