Chargers fall to Steppingley despite Fayyaz’s best efforts

Houghton Chargers batsman Wahid Khan pleads with the umpire during his sides defeat to Steppingley

The hosts batted first and were dismissed for just 123 in 35.4 overs as Mohammed Fayyaz top-scored with 33.

Chargers’ bowlers then almost rescued the situation, with opener Fayyaz going taking a miserly 1-8 from 10 overs.

There were also wickets for Wajid Khan (2-27), Mohammed Saqlain (1-22), Majid Butt (1-20) and Mumtaz Chaudhry (1-15), but Steppingley made 125-6.

Meanwhile, Chris Austin guided Offley & Stopsley to a four-wicket win over Welwyn in Saracens Herts League Division Nine A with a remarkable display of obdurate batting.

The visitors had dismissed Welwyn for 117, Joshua Hook bagging four wickets and Steve Denton three, despite a hopeless fielding display where Offley contrived to drop the same batsman nine times.

With 55 overs available to chase down the target, Austin batted all day to secure victory in the 49th over.

While wickets fell regularly at the other end, Austin blunted the Welwyn attack and made an unbeaten 40, facing an incredible 183 deliveries to guide Offley home.

Second-placed Pirton cut Frogmore’s lead at the top of Division 8B to only four points after comprehensively beating struggling Letchworth IV’s at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

The away side won the toss and decided to bat, as they were dismissed for just 95, with Jake Howard taking 3-31, Jake Laskowski claiming 2-20, and wickets also falling to Sanchay Kaeley (1-10), Scott Clarke (1-4) and Sam Davies (1-11).

Pirton then made light work of the case, reaching 95-1 in 14.1 overs, Howard hammering 66 not out from just 24 balls, while Scott Clarke was unbeaten on 14.

In the Bedfordshire County League Division One, Lutonian IIs beat Potton by 94 runs.

The visitors made 241-7 thanks to Muhammad Kamran’s knock of 91, including 12 fours and one six.

He put on 133 for the fourth wicket with Ammad Saeed (56no) after the pair came together at 79-3, while Anil Ishaq added 40.

Potton were then dismissed for 147 in 41.4 overs, opening bowler Umer Masood claiming 5-42 in his 8.4 overs.

In Division Two, Lutonian IIs beat Clifton by eight wickets.

Clifton totalled 198-6 as Tahir Ishaq picked up 4-28, while there were also wickets for Anil Ishaq (1-33) and Safir Akram (1-35).

Lutonian then eased to victory, scoring 94 in the first 10 overs, as Anil Ishaq made 58 from 24 balls before retiring out as he had to attend a wedding.

However, skipper Muhammad Kamran (53), Shahzad Dar (54) and Safir Akram (18no), ensured they reached 201-2 in just 25 overs.