Bishop's Stortford96a/o

West Herts97-5

(Home Counties Prem Lge Div 2 East)

ANOTHER poor batting display by Bishop's Stortford resulted in a five-wicket defeat against league leaders West Herts in the Home Counties Premier League Division 2 East at Cricket Field Lane on Saturday.

A total of 96 made from 52.3 overs was never going to be enough and West Herts duly reached their target for an early finish, a finish so early that the Stortford players had enough time to organise an evening net practice.

After West Herts won the toss and put Stortford in, the home side were struggling from the eighth over when they lost skipper Ben Debenham to a catch behind.

Wickets fell steadily as West Herts rattled through their overs with only David Hardcastle and Sam Fishpool from the top order reaching double figures, and when Fishpool was out in the last over before lunch Stortford were 63-7 in the 39th over.

In the latter stages of the innings Nick Dever and Mick Bashford offered some resistance but Stortford were unable to reach three figures and any bonus point.

Simon Smith led the bowling attack with a return of four for 35 off 18.3 overs.

In reply Spencer Fan and Michael Thewlis added 40 for the first wicket and it was the Stortford spinners, Simon Lindop and Bashford, who made most impact. Between them they took a four wickets, a display which had no affect on the result but did give Stortford a total of five bonus points before the end of the game in the 27th over.

Yet again the Stortford batting was found inadequate, in this case against a team who looked very proficient and well worth their place as league leaders.

From Stortford's point of view it is difficult to see how they can avoid relegation this season.

July 4, 2002 11:00