Herts Cricket League: Potters Bar beat North Mymms

The 34-run derby success at Home Farm came after heavy showers delayed the start and meant a reduced-overs game.

Runs were also hard to come by but Bar's bowlers produced the goods when it mattered, leaving the hosts all out for 91 as they chased 125 from the visitors.

The result lifts Bar up to third, 15 points behind new leaders Harpenden, the former pace-setters, and unbeaten Totteridge Millhillians, having their game with Bishop's Stortford abandoned midway through the second innings.

Mymms are down to sixth.

Richard Oxley (left) took three wickets for North Mymms. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Karyn Haddon)

The match was meant to be the first of the timed games but ended up pretty much a 40-overs per side match.

It was 2pm before things got going and Bar struggled early on under the threat of Mymms' seam attack, Will Jones and Richard Oxley.

Oxley got the first of his three wickets by trapping Steve Gale and then Jones got in on the act, removing James Seward and Reece Hussain to leave Bar at 15-3.

Charlie Scott tried to settle things down and did with 25, before he was run out following a rash call by Ashleigh Cox.

At 57-7, defeat seemed likely but Anmol Maheshram showed patience and sense as he shared partnerships of 18, 20 and 30 with the last three Bar batters to get them to 125.

He faced 64 balls in total but made a crucial 33.

But, like earlier, a poor start swung the momentum to the team fielding as Bar had Mymms at 17-3, Cox getting his first wicket for the club while Mehta, making his 100th league appearance for Bar against his old club, getting two of his eventual 3-27.

Gugan Muralitharan and Nesan Jeyaratnam played nicely but couldn't score highly enough, as they took Mymms to 61-3 and needing 64 from a minimum of 17 overs.

The first over after the last hour was called proved vital as Mymms lost four wickets for just seven runs in 17 balls.

Luke Chapman (3-19) and Thilan Walallawita (3-17) did the damage to leave Mymms at 76-9 before Mehta returned to seal the win.

Old Owens meanwhile lost by seven wickets to West Herts, leaving them eighth in the table and lifting the Watford side up to fourth.

This was another match that was low-scoring.

Owens had been put into bat on losing the toss and managed 116 before their innings came to an end in the 36th over.

Matthew Plater (32), Jack Timms (25) and Brad Lane (14) were the only ones to get into double figures, as Owen limped first to 12-2 and then 75-6.

The reply was done by the first ball of the 23rd over.

Owens did have a good start, Robert Sibley taking the wicket of Alastair Lewis without a run on the board, Timms providing the safe hands.

But with the sun out, West Herts made hay and 90-run partnership for the second wicket ended all hopes Owens realistically had.

Cole Seggery was the man out, caught by Jack Bloxham and bowled by Rhys Carter, but he had made 52 by that point, his partner in crime Zaid Faleel bowled by Lane for 46.

Owens host Mymms on Saturday while Potters Bar lock horns with old sparring partners Radlett at The Walk.