Hitchin Cricket Club Hitchin s hopes of picking up silverware this season were dashed at the final stage when they finished as runners-up in the Becker Cup plate. Playing at the picturesque Nursery Ground at Shenley, they were victims of a 10-wicket defea

Hitchin Cricket Club

Hitchin's hopes of picking up silverware this season were dashed at the final stage when they finished as runners-up in the Becker Cup plate.

Playing at the picturesque Nursery Ground at Shenley, they were victims of a 10-wicket defeat to Division Two side Northchurch who put in a better performance with both the bat and in the field to win the plate competition for the first time.

On a hard wicket, Hitchin won the toss and elected to bat first in Sunday's sweltering conditions.

Hitchin were looking to post a score of more than 200 on a wicket that was perfect for batting, and for much of the innings, they looked likely to reach that goal.

However, once Hitchin had reached 142-4 after 30 overs, and with 15 overs remaining, there was a batting collapse.

A spell of 10 overs from Northchurch yielded just 16 runs for the loss of six wickets and the game was turned on its head.

Earlier, Dave Moore had opened up with Craig Millwood and added a quick 32 before Moore fell for 20 and then Millwood for three.

Jimmy Lewis and Andy Hicks came together and again added valuable runs in a half-century stand.

Hicks scored 33 while Lewis top scored with 53 and then added 45 with captain Will Pugh (19) as the score reached 142. Lewis fell when he nicked behind and Pugh was also given out caught behind.

It went downhill as the batting fell apart and they could post a target of 158 which turned out to be much lower than what was needed.

Despite the collapse, Hitchin took to the field after tea hopeful that they could defend such a target.

Yet just a few overs in, it was apparent that the two openers were not going to hang around and that Hitchin's score was not enough.

Six bowlers were used and all of them were dispatched at some time or another.

Northchurch reached the target in 26.2 overs, Pearce scoring 73no and Maylott 68no.

P Hitchin finished their Saracens Herts League season with a win over Berkhamsted by 135 runs on Saturday.

They batted first and made 247-6 off 50 overs, with Millwood top scoring on 81 and the Moore brothers scoring 41 each. Four wickets apiece for Simon Bayston and Dave Moore and two from Andy Hicks bowled Berko out for 112.

Their seconds survived the drop from Division Six thanks to a local derby victory over Letchworth 3rds at Fairfield Park.

The hero was Ian Goddard who recorded the best figures of the season (7-14) as Letchworth were all out for 95.

Hitchin won the toss and elected to bat first and were 120-2 thanks to opener Ian Mills (42) and Devon Woolley who top scored with 55.

A flurry of wickets left Hitchin all out for 174 in 43 overs, meaning the home side had 57 overs to chase.

Early wickets left the Letchworth side in trouble and soon they found themselves nine down thanks to Goddard and Chris Slack.

The last wicket partnership was the highest for Letchworth as they nearly reached three figures, Gavin Bidgood picking up the final wicket.