For the second week running Charlie Randall and Kobie Richmond powered Knebworth Park to a convincing win in the Herts Cricket League.

This one came with a winning margin of 61 runs against second-placed Potters Bar seconds in Division Two B.

Randall's 52 and 86 from Richmond (86) set up a total of 215-7 for Park with the former then returning to take 4-29 and bowl the visitors out for 154.

Their scores with the bat were made more impressive by the hard work needed to score freely, and it was needed after losing both openers cheaply.

But they went on to add 93 for the third wicket and even when Randall was out, Richmond found a valuable ally in Akil Nagarajan, who struck a handy 24 on his first-team debut.

Richmond bagged an early wicket in reply but soon Randall and spinner Alex Richmond were brought into the attack and the aggressive pace and bounce of Randall at one end, with the contrasting nagging slow bowling of Richmond, eventually proved decisive.

Prabhdeep Singh got 40 for Bar and Max Delyfer 45 but Alex Richmond took 2-32 and Kobie 2-24 in a spell that saw five wickets fall in as many overs for only nine runs.

Knebworth seconds pulled off a thrilling win too, beating St Margaretsbury.

Chasing 257-7, Knebworth looked out of it at 180-7 but Ian Pickering (66) masterminded the tail to get within reach before he was out with the finish in sight.

With nine needed off nine balls Sujith (15 not out) smashed a six and a four avoiding the need for a last over.

Earlier Ross Courtney picked up three wickets, getting 3-52, while Adam Sergeant got 66.

The thirds lost at Kimpton with Ryan Hassall getting 42 and a late flurry from skipper Miles Baron (26*) and David Mantle (25) liftingthem up to 140 all out.

Kimpton's reply though started quickly and they eased to victory.

The fourths got back to winning ways with a fine all-round performance to defeat Hitchin fifths by five wickets.

Hitchin were bowled out for 137, Richard Wheeler taking three wickets and Mark Chapelhow and John Inman getting two.

Inman and Wheeler then both hit 34 that saw Knebworth home with two overs and five wickets to spare.

Hitchin's first team had a heartbreaking six-run loss at home to Leverstock Green in Division One.

The visitors to Lucas Lane had been bowled out for 178, Luke Day leading the Hitchin bowlers with 4-22 although he was supported ably by Sam Rippington (3-38) and Musa Ilyas (2-36).

Will Guest put on 48 early in the reply and Hitchin went into the final five overs needing 19 with two wickets in hand.

However, they lost Luke Day for 23 almost immediately and although they crept up to 171-9 with 12 balls left, only one came before Leighton Gibbs was run out as Kian Postlethwaite pushed for a single.

It is starting to look bleak for Letchworth in the Championship after a seven-wicket loss to champions elect Flitwick.

David Albon hit 52 for Letchworth but the defeat leaves them bottom of the table and 50 points from safety with five games to go.

Preston are the side one position above the bottom two and will be looking nervously over their shoulders after St Albans picked up another win to close to within 36 points.

They went down by five wickets to Chorleywood and were reeling after opting to bat first, Ed Wharton out early with Preston on 15-1.

George Biggs steadied the ship for a while, making a gritty 45 before being bowled, but the rest of the Preston innings just didn't fire and they finished on a meagre and well-below par 120.

Chorleywood set about the chase in a very determined fashion and made early inroads when Wharton trapped Isaac Weintrob for two but contributions from Freddie Dare (43), Tom Smithson (37) and Gene Tipping (21*) meant the target was reached in 29 overs.

The seconds had a nailbiter against Hatfield Hyde in Division Four B, the table toppers winning by just four runs.

Omar Faleel caused the most havoc as Hyde batted first, taking 4-38 with skipper David Fleckney in support with 3-29.

That left them on 185 but the leaders though bowled well and varied their pace bowlers with spin regularly and from both ends.

But despite losing wickets, Preston kept getting closer and closer to victory.

Fleckney's patient 32 allowed some flourish and risk taking towards the end of the innings from the likes of Mark Waters (19) and Chris Cole (26).

They were left needing five from the last over but lost their two wickets in hand in the first three balls.

There was a seven-wicket loss for the thirds against Dunstable, Preston making 132-9 with 34 from Bhav Patel, 31 for John Garnham and 22 for Arif Islam.

However, that was always within the reach of Dunstable, the total was reached in the 34th over.

The fourths also fell short against Welwyn Garden City side, finishing on 140 as they chased 221-5.

The Sunday twos won though, beating Knotty Green by five wickets.

The visitors batted first and made 226-9 although all the Preston's bowlers did well, Tom Else leading the way with 3-15.

In reply, Rian Brown made a determined 27, with Rajani making 21.

Dillon Beattie hit a brilliant 31 while Ponder got 38 and Else made an excellent and rather out of character 43.

Ickleford lost to Division Three A leaders Tewin in a frustrating encounter.

It started brightly for the Tigers. After winning the toss, Axel Morris and Eswar Krishnamurthy (3-35) continued their excellent form with the new ball reducing Tewin to 17-3 and 52-4, with Tom Brown returning 3-43 as well as 2-33 from Nadeem Akhtar.

But Tewin rallied towards the end of their innings and posted 196, still an achievable total on a pitch which offered pace and movement for the seamers.

However, Ickleford were unable to build a substantial partnership.

Eden Scott made a bright 31 and Krishnamurthy a patient 39 not out but they slipped to 107-7 before eventually ending up 157 all out.

The seconds lost to high flying Eaton Bray by 25 runs despite a standout performance from youngster Leo Chan.

He took 4-22 from just 3.1 overs and then got his first double figure score in adult cricket, making 12 not out.

Elsewhere there was 2-29 for Luke Dodd and 2-31 from Richard Brown while James Dermont top scored with 28, Mark Schumann got 22 and Faisal Khan and Richard Peareth each made 23.

The thirds made it back to back wins with a strong performance at Potton Town.

Winning the toss and electing to field, Ickleford reduced Potton Town to 41-4 before a determined 60 from Ahmad took their score to 151-6 in their 40 overs.

The outstanding bowler was James Kench (3-13), supported well by debutant Indetkar (1-22) and Scott Dalrymple (1-23).

In reply, an opening partnership of 110 by Chris  Coleman (47) and Bharatt Puttur (35) set a strong foundation and despite some good late bowling, Dave Baker (24*) saw the visitors home to win by seven wickets.

The Sunday side had an exciting victory over Markyate.

The target Markyate set was a tough one as they made 188 but Noah Giggle took 3-18 from his eight overs and Leo Chan was back with 3-27.

Ickleford made a good start to their reply and Michael Day 24 and Dave Baker 38 scored briskly.

Then George Crouch hit a quickfire 43 but wickets were falling and it took a captain’s innings from Richard Peareth (46 not out) to see Ickleford over the line for a three-wicket victory.

Stevenage lost by seven wickets to Ampthill in Division Two A, Moses Anil getting 54 and two wickets.