Saracens Hertfordshire League – Division Two . . .

Letchworth II 151 all out (43.3 overs).

Shenley Village 155-4 (35.3 overs).

Result: Shenley Village won by 6 wickets.

Newly-promoted Division Three champions Shenley Village began the Division Two campaign with a home fixture against Letchworth II, who had also clinched promotion last season.

Beginning the game in warm sunshine, Shenley won the toss and chose to field. Captain Jemile Al-Darraji and Craig Rawlings opened the bowling, their accurate opening attack restricting Letchworth to just 15 runs from the first 12 overs, five of which were maidens. The first wicket fell in the 12th over, as Letchworth captain Sam Booth was caught at slip by Steve Scott, off the bowling of Rawlings. Fellow opener John Hilliard followed a few overs later, caught behind, again off Rawlings, on 11. For the visitors, David Albon was the standout batsman; playing patiently and with some big hitting towards the end of his knock, to score 77.

The middle overs of the innings saw an impressive display by Shenley’s left-arm pace bowler James Davenall, who took 4-41. Nauman Saqeb chipped in with 2-34, while Craig Rawlings ended on 2-22. Keeper Rob Laney took four catches. Al-Darraji, in his second spell, quickly swept up the tail, bowling the last two Letchworth batsmen in the 44th over. He finished with 2-18 as Letchworth were 151 all out.

After tea, the warm and sunny weather was swiftly replaced by cold and drizzly conditions. Shenley suffered an early setback as opener Anooj Vadgama fell lbw in the second over to youngster Dominic Simmons but Morgan Stanley and a lucky Laney managed to steady things – Laney surviving several dropped catches as he made a valuable 32 before finally being caught in the deep. As the weather began to deteriorate, there was a frustrating delay as nine overs were lost due to rain and the laying of sawdust on the bowlers’ run-ups. On the resumption, Al-Darraji made 21 before being dismissed lbw. As the light faded and the cold and drizzly weather began to set in again, Shenley needed to push on quickly if they were to reach their target. A determined performance from Rahul Gajjar, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 45 not out, alongside Lloyd Willingham’s unbeaten 22, saw Shenley Village home in the 36th over, with six wickets to spare. Seventeen-year-old Sayf-Ali Khan was Letchworth’s pick of the bowlers, with 2-20.

On Saturday Shenley make the away trip to Old Albanians – 1pm start.