Victory takes Shenley to the top of the table

11:47am Wednesday 23rd July 2003

Shenley recorded their ninth victory on Saturday and enter the final third of the season at the top of the table, looking well placed for their second successive promotion.

Boxmoor captain Bob Feander won the toss and surprisingly asked Shenley to bat first in the hot conditions. Jemile Al-Darraji and Richard Evans started the innings for Shenley and found the going tough on a surface that offered steep bounce.

Evans fell early, for just eight, when he edged to second slip. Chris McDonald was next in and he and Al-Darraji, who used his feet excellently to cope with the bounce, weathered the storm. When Al-Darraji fell for 49 the score was 82.

When McDonald (22) fell in the next over, Vernon Senanayake was joined by Rahul Gajjar. Gajjar raced to 40 off just 18 balls, including nine fours.

When Senanayake perished for 11 off the bowling of Feander, the pair had added 56 in just eight overs. Steve Scott joined in the hitting and Shenley soon raced past 200. Gajjar (84 not out) and Scott (40 no) were quickly adding runs when Woodward called a halt to the innings at the end of the 43rd over.

With 57 overs at their disposal, Shenley were able to start with the luxury of seven close-catchers. This tactic worked well with the tame dismissal of Feander by Lillywhite. Jon Haley took the next two wickets, with the batsmen uncertain how to play a bowler of his pace on an inconsistent surface. Boxmoor looked in trouble at 48-3, but then had a rally of sorts.

Woodward then struck with his first ball. Scott was also successful in his first over and soon struck twice more, dismissing opener Gorrange, caught by Al-Darraji in the deep, for 54. Boxmoor were now 106-7. with more than 30 overs remaining. An eighth-wicket partnership of 49 between Warburton and Luck was the high-point of the Boxmoor innings.

Gajjar wrapped up the innings and a victory for the villagers when he bowled Down (10) in the 35th over. SHENLEY VILLAGE: Matt Woodward (Capt), Richard Evans, Steve Scott, Vernon Senanayake, Bob Voyce, Tom Blackman (wk), Rahul Gajjar, Jemile Al-Darraji, Ed Lillywhite, Chris McDonald, Jon Haley.

Shenley Village 228-4 Boxmoor II 167 all out Saracens Hertfordshire League Division Seven

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