Preston picked up what could be a season-defining victory as as they defeated St Albans in the Herts Cricket League.

Had Saints won their Championship clash, they would have moved onto the shirt-tails of Preston, hotting up the race to avoid the bottom two.

As it is Preston can now focus on beating last season's highest ever position of seventh, the 67-run success moving them 59 points clear of danger with four games remaining.

Preston posted a solid 251-7 in their allotted 60 overs at Clarence Park, skipper Jake George anchoring the innings with a well-crafted 78.

He shared a crucial 100-run partnership with Justin Powick, who contributed a composed 50, while there were late fireworks from Jack Bermingham, smashing 40 in just 23 deliveries. 

In reply, Preston’s spinners dominated, making the chase a non-event by regularly picking up wickets.

Peter Murrell led the attack with an outstanding spell of 2-46 off 20 overs, while Max Anderson, Luke Marsden, and Powick also bagged two two wickets. 

The seconds beat Reed by five wickets in Division Four B, chasing down Reed's 189-9 om the 39th over.

Lachlan Turner got an unbeaten 63 while Oliver Gallimore shone with 4-39.

And the thirds made it three wins from three, beating Harpenden by 11 runs.

Craig Tennant led the way with a sparkling 55, hitting 10 boundaries, and he was well-supported by 46 from Andrew Riant, who then took 3-24 with the ball.

Letchworth though look doomed. They were thrashed by 197 runs at home to Hoddesdon, leaving them rock bottom and 66 points from safety.

Hitchin lost by 86 runs at Redbourn in Division One, leaving them sixth.

Kian Postlethwaite took 4-43 and Saad Waqas top scored with 49 but they were all out in pursuit of the target after 43 overs.

Stevenage are also sixth in Division Two A after 35-run loss at Berkhamsted, Sean Tyler getting 69.

A masterly innings by opening bat Haydon Bartlett-Tasker steered Knebworth Park to their third successive win in Division Two B.

They beat Kings Langley away by five wickets to move fourth in the table, 41 points behind the top two.

Bartlett-Tasker displayed outstanding patience and shot selection to reach 54 not out and send Park past the home side's 119 all out.

Runs looked difficult from the start, Gareth Jones conceding just eight in as many overs, as well as claiming two wickets.

The early introduction of spinners Alex Richmond (5-27) and Matt Hutchinson (3-36) did the majority of the damage as Langley slumped to 89-8 and only a late flurry from the tailenders dragged them up to three figures.

Prospects of a Knebworth win didn't look great when they found themselves on 9-2, losing Hutchinson and Kobie Richmond cheaply.

Bartlett-Tasker and Archie Stephens pieced together a recovery with a stand of 41 and there then followed by an almost identical and precious partnership with Rob Morley.

Two quick wickets left them on a still precarious 90-5 but Bartlett-Tasker found a further valuable ally in Dave Roberts (15*) and they got Knebworth to victory.

In thrilling finish the seconds went down by one wicket to league leaders Aldenham.

Chasing Knebworth's 202 all out, they had the game in the bag before four wickets fell in quick succession, leaving the last pair to sneak home after a string of close shaves.

Knebworth's innings started slowly with 51-4 off 19 overs before 76 for Adam Sergeant and 38 from 16-year-old Eddie Mably brought a partnership of 81.

Aldenham lost their first wicket on 15 and progressed steadily to reach 115-3 at the halfway point before quickly moving on to 175-5 with 17 overs remaining.

A stream of dropped catches had not helped Park's cause but tighter bowling brought its reward and when the eighth and ninth wickets fell, both with the score on 195, an unlikely victory was possible.

But, despite beating the bat on a number of occasions, the final wicket could not be taken and Aldenham got home in the 45th over.

Graham Fisher and Sergeant each got two wickets but the pick of the bowlers was Sujith Reddy with 3-54.

The thirds went down by 35 runs to Hitchin fourths.

Chasing the visitors' 176, they made a terrific start in response with Phil Wheeler's 26 and Iain Hildenbrandt on 65 but they then fell away to finish 141 all out.

Datchworth meanwhile are waiting for a slip up for either of the top two in Division Three A, having moved third with a 157-run win over Letchworth seconds.

Nick Winchester (77) and Tom Vits (66) top scored as they made 255-8, before bowling Letchworth out for 98.

Kieran Atkinson starred with the ball, taking 5-29.

A below strength Ickleford were well beaten by second in the table Bushey.

They bowled quite consistently and four bowlers took two wickets - Eswar Krishnamurthy, Nadeem Akhtar, George Crouch and Sam Draper.

But Bushey steadily accumulated runs and finished on 226-8.

Ickleford struggled in their reply as the promotion chasers made life difficult.

Only Eden Scott scored more than 20 as he reached 24 but they could only muster 120 and were all out in 28.3 overs.

The seconds had a difficult afternoon too as they chased leather against Hatfield & Crusaders.

Skipper Adam Ross soon regretted his decision to bowl first as the ball began to disappear to all parts and Hatfield eased to 308-9 from their 50 overs.

Scot Crouch took 3-58 and Richard Brown 2-44 as numerous bowling combinations were tried.

With a successful chase soon out of the question , Ickleford began the task of accumulating batting points.

Harry Saunders completed a heroic performance after breaking his finger taking a catch earlier, and despite strapping up the finger and taking three more catches, he chipped in with 52.

Matteo Peareth made 30 and Adam Ross, James Dermont, Bharath Puttur and Richard Brown all made more than 20 as Ickleford closed on a creditable 218-7.