Edgware fall out of promotion race following tough loss to Hemel Hempstead

Edgware's hopes of getting promoted from the Chess Valley League Division 4 appear all but over after Hemel Hempstead completed a straightforward 8-wicket win at Heath Park on Sunday.

Raj Parmar leaves the field after a rain delay

After being asked to bat by Hemel Hempstead, Edgware made a cautious start to their innings as Vidanda Galgamuwa and Jeet Swaminarayan added 24 for the first wicket. When Jeet Swaminarayan edged behind for 17, Vidanda and Sagar Raghvani looked to set a solid foundation moving Edgware to 56-1 as rain fell in periodic patches. However, when Sagar was bowled for 17 by Dil Khan, Edgware stuttered to 86-5 as Vish Mistry was run out for 3, Jaimin Patel was out caught for a duck and Vidanda Galgamuwa fell LBW for 35. Raj Parmar and Jas Mandla provided some late order hitting to push Edgware past 100, but the away side struggled to gather any real momentum and fell to 133/8 off 35.4 overs.

Sagar Raghvani drives on his way to 17

Edgware's hopes of a win faded within the first few overs of their bowling effort as Hemel Hempstead's opening pair looked aggressive and were unforgiving to anything short and over pitched. Jaimin Patel and Vidanda Galgamuwa picked up a wicket a-piece but unfortunately for Edgware it would all be in vain as Hemel Hempstead chased down the target in just 20 overs.

Edgware now sit in 5th place with 8 points and will need to win their final two games for any chance of promotion to Division 4. Their last two games are against Harefield and Harrow St Marys who are 2nd and 8th in the table respectively.