Jimmy Lewis explosive ton was the highlight as the local derby between Letchworth GC and Hitchin at Whitethorn Lane was drawn. Letchworth skipper Steve March won the toss and invited Hitchin to bat. The home side should have been rewarded in the first ov

Jimmy Lewis' explosive ton was the highlight as the local derby between Letchworth GC and Hitchin at Whitethorn Lane was drawn.

Letchworth skipper Steve March won the toss and invited Hitchin to bat.

The home side should have been rewarded in the first over when in-form Hitchin skipper Craig Millwood gave a regulation chance to gully which was spilled.

Hitchin's opening pair then made Letchworth pay with a stand of 84 before Simon Mayes was caught off Dom Marsh for 24.

This brought Lewis to the crease and he was quickly into his stride, dominating a partnership of 103 with Millwood, before Millwood was well caught by Richard Barclay off Tom Cranston for 74 with the score on 185.

Lewis powered on to a fine century and had reached 111 when he holed out to Cranston on the long-on boundary off Barclay having struck two sixes and 15 fours in an innings lasting only 81 balls.

Letchworth's suffering was not over, however, as Atul Ranade then also raced to 51no off 37 balls as Hitchin closed on 281-3 off their 53 overs.

Letchworth made a good start in chasing their mammoth target and had reached 64 before Simon Elliott was caught off Dave Moore.

Seb Franke-Matthecka joined Cranston and they had taken the score to 100-1 in quick time before Cranston was forced to retire hurt on 54 with a calf strain.

This proved to be the turning point as the Garden City then lost March and Richard Walsh in quick succession.

Franke-Mattecka raced to his fifty, but soon afterwards was bowled by Moore trying to keep up the momentum.

Dave Albon hit a quick 20, but it was left to the hobbling Cranston to return and save the game, finishing on 69no as Letchworth finished on 192-7. Moore finished with 3-91 and Simon Bayston 2-33.

* Letchworth second XI were more successful in their local derby, winning an exciting game at Ickleford by one wicket with one ball left.

Graham Bishton won the toss and invited the home side to bat and his bowlers turned in a good performance, restricting the home side to 157-9 off their 53 overs.

Mike deNooijer took 3-30, Gavin Booth 3-20 and Simon Edwards 2-20.

Letchworth also struggled, but good knocks from Darren Curry (41) and Sam Booth (34) kept them in the game and Gavin Booth's late 22no took them to the last over when Dane Hirst hit the fifth ball for four to win the match.

For Ickleford, Duncan Jenner took 4-40 and Tom Reilly 4-52.

The third XI won comfortably at Boxmoor. Having been put in, they reached 197 off 49 overs with Josh Furness making 80 and Tom Butler 55 before good left-arm spin by Matt Bridge (5-14) polished off the home side for 88.

The fourths played a bizarre draw with Dunstable fourths on a damp wicket at Fairfield Park.

Good contributions from Richard Wharton (48) and Rob Williams (41no) took Letchworth to 171-8, a target which Dunstable found of no interest whatsoever, as they plodded to 69-5 off their 47 overs, Alex Wilson taking 2-6.

The fifth XI were once again victims of the weather at St Christopher School.