Chesterfords promotion hopes took a major blow on Saturday when a poor batting display gave Thorley victory in the Herts & Essex League Division Two. Chesterfords lost the toss and were asked to bowl on a damp, flat wicket. They got off to a fantastic s

Chesterfords' promotion hopes took a major blow on Saturday when a poor batting display gave Thorley victory in the Herts & Essex League Division Two.

Chesterfords lost the toss and were asked to bowl on a damp, flat wicket.

They got off to a fantastic start with Alan Stokeley taking three early wickets and Tom O'Reilly taking one, leaving Thorley 40-4 in the 13th over.

A fine bowling performance saw Stokeley with figures of 4-18 off of 10 overs.

M Dellow and W Ellred batted well and were lucky at times with Ellred being dropped three times on his way to scoring 37.

Dellow held the innings together with a stubborn 39 that frustrated the Chesterfords bowling attack. Tom O'Reilly (3-33), came back on to bowl and with the help of David Perring (3-19), they managed to rattle through the rear guard action of Thorley's batsmen eventually bowling them out for 126 in the 36th over.

In reply Chesterfords got off to a steady start with D Lightning and L Woodcock batting confidently, before Lightning was bowled for 19 by S Crews and Woodcock was caught for 16.

S Osbourne continued to bowl well as the Chesterfords' batting order collapsed. Osbourne and J Selwood proved too good for Chesterfords as both bowlers finished with three wickets each.

Chesterfords were finally bowled out for a meagre 106 in the 32nd over.

On Saturday Chesterfords visit High Beach.