Radlett lost ground on top spot as they crashed to their first defeat of the season at the hands of Welwyn Garden City, a result that sees the Cobden Hill outfit slip to fourth in the Herts League Premier Division.

The hosts, Welwyn, who list former Middlesex and England batsman Owais Shah among their ranks, put Radlett in the field by opting to bat first.

Radlett started brightly with the ball though, and the desired early breakthrough arrived when Darren James clean bowled Alex Chalker for 6.

That early optimism would prove unfounded, however, as Welwyn put together a series of strong partnerships to frustrate the bowling attack.

Louis Champion (31) was next to go off the bowling of Joe Cooke. Shah then added 38 before falling to star man Kabir Toor, who would end with impressive figures of 5-54 from 18.3 overs.

However, wicket-keeper Daniel Blacktopp was the architect for Welwyn, plundering 70 as the hosts breezed past 200, only to depart leg before wicket to Anthony Hill as their innings came to a close at 242 all out after 59.3 overs.

In reply, Radlett made a steady start, although they would soon find themselves one down as Connor Emerton claimed the first of his five scalps with the dismissal of Fraser Crawford for 20.

They recovered well, however, as Tom Jenkins reached 41 and new batsman Toor added 18 before departing at the hands of Emerton and Matthew Grant respectively, tipping the balance in the hosts’ favour.

And from that point onward, Radlett could not arrest the slide as Emerton and Grant tore through the batting card with devastating ease.

Only brief acts of resistance gave Radlett any semblance of hope but the match would prove beyond them.

Grant brought up his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Abdulrahim Mulla for a duck, dismissing Radlett for just 134 in 31 overs and consigning them to a comprehensive 108-run defeat that sees Welwyn leapfrog them into third in the table.