OLD ALBANIANS took over at the top of Division Two despite being unable to kill off the threat of previous leaders Knebworth Park.
The top-of-the table clash ended in a draw, but with a solid batting display securing maximum bonus points, the Beech Bottom side still leapfrogged their guests, while third-placed Harpenden were busy being beaten by Berkhamsted.
The 17 bonus points put Graham Dill's men back on the top of the pile for the first time since the opening weeks of the season.
It was left to Albanians' batsmen to provide the main impetus on Saturday as they showed the sort of collective effort needed to compete with one of the strongest line-ups in the division.
Park won the toss and put the home team in, but with Aussie Paul Knight and Jon Baines pushing plenty of singles and punishing any bad balls, they were soon ruing the decision.
The pair put on over 50 for the first wicket, with Baines clubbing two sweet sixes in his 31 and Knight continuing his recent form with a fluent 38.
Although both were deprived of a big score, they had set the tone and with every other Albanian making it into double figures, the scoreboard ticked along nicely.
It was left to the imposing figure of Andy McCree to really step up the scoring rate and in rediscovering his hard-hitting form, the all-rounder did just that further down the card.
McCree continually cleared the covers as he blasted his way to an entertaining 50 not out that left the league leaders needing to surpass 217-5 if they were to hold on to pole position.
The new ball was accepted with relish and as soon as Knight (1-56) had struck early and left-armer Andy Mason had slipped into his groove, the Park response was well short of the required rate.
Mason produced another exemplary display of seam bowling to pick up 3-48, including the scalp of dangerman Watson for 46.
Mike O'Carroll weighed in with 2-49 as Albanians made quick work of the middle order before running out of steam later in the day, hardly helped by a couple of difficult chances being put down.
With Steadman slowing up their charge with a dogged 38, the wickets soon dried up for the home side and allowed Park to hang on for a draw.
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