A TENSE five-wicket win for Leverstock Green 1st XI at Preston leaves Dayle Littlejohn's team two wins from the Saracens Herts League Division 2A title.

The skipper took 4-27 which, combined with 3-3 from Imran Iqbal, saw hosts Preston - who chose to bat first - removed for 92.

With Levy at 1-2 (openers Miles Barnard and Lewis Koch out), the match was in the balance. Enter Kyle Claxton, who played an excellent hand of 35 not out during a nervy run chase.

Kris Jadeja's 21 and Mark Landau's 18 not out also helped get Levy over the line.

Now Green must defeat Watford Town and Old Owens to secure both promotion to Division 1 and the Division 2A title, with Radlett II and Northwood offering little margin for error close behind.

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GREEN 3s performed admirably in defeat at Datchworth II.

Set 260 to win by the Division 9B high-flyers, captain Gareth Tucker led the way with 62 as the 3rd XI eventually made 200 all out near the end of their 50 overs.

Chris Saxby hit a middle-order 22 and there was 20 not out from Sash Ranamuni - making a welcome cameo appearance for Levy.

Earlier in the afternoon, Lewis Glasscoe starred with the ball for Green taking 4-45 from a maximum spell of 10 overs.

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IN-FORM Langleybury II inflicted a six-wicket defeat upon LGCC 2s, who must now win one of their final two fixtures to be absolutely sure of retaining their Division 4B status - having been promoted last year.

Tom Callingham, with 30, top-scored for Levy as they compiled a below-par 149 all out.

At 68-4, the game was certainly in the balance but Bury opener Ross Channer survived a huge caught-behind shout to go and make a match-winning 64 not out as the visitors coasted home in good time at The Green.