Wheathampstead Cricket Club

Wheathampstead 1st XI found their best performance of the season to secure promotion to Division 2 by crushing Eversholt by 131 runs. After choosing to bat, Wheato played fluently to reach 111-4 at which point the game could have gone either way but a fifth wicket partnership of 93 between Dave Corran and Adam Winchester swung the game towards the home side. Corran hit a fine 44 with some aggresive leg side hitting and together with a superb captains innings of 97 from Winchester, the pair smashed the Eversholt bowlers all over Nomansland. When the two danger men were finally out trying to up the run rate, Wheato suffered a lower order collapse but after reaching their target of 200, their final total of 208 all out seemed enough. Knowing that a win would secure Division 2 cricket next season, Wheato took the new ball and the bowlers took full advantage. Adam Robbins (3 for 40) had the stumps out of the ground twice as he bowled with raw pace and Chris Strivens (1 for 13) bowled tightly to restrict the Eversholt batsman to 62-4. The pressure continued as Jillani Ghulam (2 for 13) and season best figures from Daniel Norris (4 for 5) meant Wheato bowled Eversholt out for just 77 to take a well deserved 131 run victory and spark jubilant scenes on Nomansland as promotion was gained. Wheato's captain was delighted with his teams performance, 'this season has been great for us, our target was promotion and to get there is a great feeling. Eversholt are a very good side but we raised our game to a new level and showed our class in all forms of the game which I was very happy with'. With results going Wheato's way, they now sit second in Division 3 with an outside chance of being Champions if they win away against North Enfield next week and Botany Bay fail to pick up a win or 16 points.

Wheathampstead 2nd XI maintained their place at the top of Division 7 as they beat Hertford 3rd XI by 8 wickets. Jimmy McEwen won the toss and chose to bowl and although Nick Martin took 2 for 33, Hertford posted a decent target of 208 for 7. Openers McEwen (83) and Alastair Sykes (37) batted superbly before Sam Ledger (40 not out) and Dave Dabare (25 not out) helped Wheato knock off the runs off just 35.1 overs, finishing on 209-2. The 2nd XI host Tewin next week and a win would crown them well deserved Champions of Division 7 after an extremely successful season under McEwen.

With Wheathampstead 3rd XI already promoted, it means all three Wheato teams have been promoted this year in what will surely become one of the most memorable in the clubs 188 year history.