Shenley Village II 163 Flamstead 165-3 Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Nine Shenley Twos played their first league home game of the season at the cricket centre on Saturday to Flamstead, who were riding high in their first season in the division.

The village side were asked to bat first and lost their first wicket in the eighth over with the score on 15.

With the visiting bowlers seemingly on top, Stubbs in at three began to assert himself and went on to amass 36 runs in an eleven over spell before being bowled with the score on 59.

The loss of another wicket and the home side were 63 for 3 just over the 20 over mark and needed to push on.

But the straight bowling and inconsistent bounce made playing shots by the batsmen very dangerous.

Lewis playing his usual holding role batting saw the first four wickets fall with Liam Willingham hitting 27 runs when he was bowled before Lewis went for 34.

With captain Affleck joined by new member Stuart Guymer playing his first game in a year or so found runs hard to come by but eked out a valuable 30 run partnership before Affleck was adjudged stumped for 23 with the score on 152.

The batting then collapsed as the village side lost five wickets for only 11 more runs in just five overs to see any hopes of a respectable total go out of the window.

One exceptional catch at the end was to remove an unlucky Lloyd Willingham who looked as if he could add some much needed valuable runs as Shenley finished on 163.

In reply the village knew they had to make quick inroads against the batting and had their reward when the reply was on 14 as Liam Willingham took a sharp catch behind on the leg side from his brother Lloyd.

Phillips fell on six with the score at 42, as Taylor not out 69, was joined by the big hitting of Steele (21) who was only interested in hitting lofty boundaries.

With the fielders standing well back inviting singles he finally holed out from the bowling of Ross Jennings as Stubbs took the catch at extra cover.

With no chances being offered by Taylor and number five McClean 43 not out, it was about experimenting with the bowling as things went flat.

But no further wickets fell and Flamstead ran out seven wicket victors.

This leaves the village side without a win and second from bottom of the table.

SHENLEY VILLAGE II: B Willingham, A Lewis, D Stubbs, La Willingham, Li Willingham, D Affleck, S Guymer, Ll Willingham, S Schusman, K Wood, R Jennings.