Matchbeat

A day of draws in crickets Home Counties league saw the Division Two East table largely unchanged. A brilliant batting display by Stevenage at leaders Radlett was the local highlight but Welwyn missed the opportunity to go top eventually holding on for a draw against Potters Bar. Naseer Ahmed struck an unbeaten 125 and Gareth Berg 81 as Stevenage topped 300 at 5 runs an over. Although the pacesetters never threatened to win the 2 Smiths, Rob and Haydn, struck half centuries to reach stumps with 2 wickets intact. That was enough to retain top spot as Welwyn Garden City found former leaders Potters Bar in no mood to roll over. Dean Dass scored 92 to give Bar a testing total of 251 at Digswell. Simon White then hit 55 to give the hosts hope but Herts colleague Paul Barker found help from a turning pitch to take 5-65 and with the last pair at the crease City settled for the draw. A similar story at Knebworth Park who sniffed a rare win until denied by Hertfords last two. Tom Jenkins Anthony Pratt and Adrian Holmes passed 50 to lift KP to 252 and although Steve Cordingley responded in kind Hertford were 9 down and nearly 100 adrift when the umpires called a halt. A high scoring match at Hemel saw Ricki Mohammed notch 107 not out in a total of 278-5. Hoddesdon looked to be in with a shout when Owais Yousaf (74) was going well but Brian Davies (5-81) curtailed the charge and Hoddy were 17 short when the 10th wicket pair settled for parity. North Mymms, the days only winners against Sawbridgeworth, pulled clear of the drop zone to leave Hoddesdon in danger of being pulled into the relegation dogfight