Matchbeat

Welwyn Garden City suffered a narrow defeat in the penultimate round of Home Counties Division 2 East matches that could deny them promotion after looking odds on for much of the season. A 5 run defeat at Sawbridgeworth rules out City´s chances of becoming champions and sees Stevenage overtake the Digswell team in the race for a place in Division One. Herts Simon White had set up victory with 5-22 as Sawbo were dismissed for 77 but a tricky pitch assisted the bowlers all day and Ryan Cunningham´s 5 wicket haul was enough to leave City tantalisingly short. WGC will now have to beat leaders Radlett in next weekends finale to have any chance of promotion. Stevenage stated their credentials emphatically after restricting Potters Bar to under 200. Taqueer Sikander led the successful run chase which was achieved in 45 overs the only disappointment being his dismissal four short of a deserved century. Knebworth Park are staring relegation in the face roundly beaten by Radlett who posted 234-8 after which KP´s batsmen had no answer to the inform Stuart Browne (8-25) Hoddesdon also suffered heavy defeat to North Mymms. Captain Richard Byrne took 6-84 as Hoddy struggled to contain the freescoring Mymms batsmen and Danny Duggan (5-39) put paid to any chance of victory as the hosts were bowled out for 128. Hertford´s Phil Carlson hit a half century as their rain affected match at Hemel ended in a tame draw
A tightly packed Saracens Herts league table means draws for St Albans and St Margaretsbury separates 2nd and 8th by only 21 points and keeps St Albans in with a shout of promotion if they beat bottom club Northwood next weekend.