Stortford 125ao

West Herts 129-8

West Herts won by two wickets

(Saracens Herts League premier division)

DARREN WHITTINGHAM'S heroics with the ball could not raise Bishop's Stortford to seventh heaven as they lost by two wickets against West Herts at Cricketfield Lane on Saturday.

The Australian finished with outstanding figures of 7-29 off 18 overs but the home side's poor batting show left him with just too much to do.

Stortford took the crease first and lost opener Tom Bull for just three before skipper Ben Debenham and Whittingham fought back with 20 and 21.

They struggled against the bowling of Stuart Easterbrook, who took 5-39, and the hosts were soon struggling at 70-6 after 39 overs.

They rallied with a fine innings of 40 from Steve Burrow and Gareth Lindop added 19 as they put on 40 for the seventh wicket.

But Burrow's dismissal, caught on the boundary by Hodges when trying to smash a six, signalled the beginning of the end for Stortford and they were all out for 125.

In reply, West Herts appeared to be cruising to victory as openers Spencer Fan and Matthew Smith put together a steady partnership of 94 with 32 and 59.

Whittingham had no joy in his first spell but he suddenly found his range in the first over of his second spell, dismissing Fan and Smith.

Burrow trapped Michael Foster lbw for one then the Aussie struck three more times in his next two overs.

Suddenly six wickets had fallen for as many runs and Stortford had high hopes of an unlikely victory.

Whittingham seemed determined to pull this off single-handedly and soon claimed two more wickets, but a vital 19 from Duncan Kendal saw West Herts home at 129-8.

It was a rousing finish for Stortford but they must improve their batting if they are to move up the table. Whittingham is their leading run scorer, with 279, and wicket-taker with 29.