RADLETT emphatically emphasised the gulf in class between the Home Counties Premier League and Home Counties Division Two East with an awesome display of batting easing the Cobden Hill outfit to a 143 run victory over neighbours St Albans in the third round of the Becker Cup.

Former Zimbabwe test captain Dave Houghton was the star of the show for Radlett with a magnificent 139 not out which consisted of 14 fours and five sixes.

A fluent 44 from Jim Chaudry and 41 from Kervin Marc saw Radlett reach 361-9 off their 50 overs and effectively put the match out of reach. Pick of the Saints' bowlers was Simon Fretter, whose 1-31 in ten overs looks highly respectable given the circumstances.

In reply, Ian Curtis (53), Andy Jones (41) and Josh Holt (39) all contributed but Saints never looked likely to challenge the huge target and finished 143 runs short on 227-8. Radlett now face Knebworth Park for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.

June 26, 2002 15:30