High fives at the Park for Lowe

David Lowe led Knebworth Park to a thrilling victory over second-placed Welwyn Garden City in the Home Counties Premier League.

His imposing innings of 112 was his second century of the season and paved the way for the Park's first-ever win in league matches against Welwyn GC.

After a controlled bowling performance restricted the visitors to 239-5, Park lost two wickets in the final over to edge home by three wickets with just two balls to spare.

Lowe and Adrian Holmes (33) added 98 before Holmes was given out leg before.

Skipper Ryan Skeggs helped carry on the run chase with some awesome striking by Lowe.

Lowe reached his second ton of the year and was one of the finest knocks seen for a long time at the Park before he was out with nearly 60 runs needed.

Anthony Pratt maintained the momentum before he was stumped for 17 and then ex-Welwyn GC skipper Tony Skeggs hit a magnificent six off Aaron Laraman as the strong sun made visibility difficult.

Ryan Skeggs' patient innings of 32 ended with a rash shot against spinner Murti Hussain.

Brother Tony (26no) kept his head to hit the winning four off Hussain with two balls to spare but not before Sam McCrow was caught and Graham Fisher run out in the tension of the last over.

Earlier, Welwyn GC never really got going until Ben Fraser came in and knocked a swift fifty to set what looked to be a matchwinning target of 240 on a wicket that should have suited spinner Hussain.

Pratt and Chris Brook bowled with control early on and Brook was rewarded with the scalp of Welwyn GC skipper Martin James from a superbly taken catch by Tony Skeggs.

Welwyn GC went into lunch on 90-1 off 35 overs before Mark Everett (39), Nick Lamb (run out for 62) and Ed Tucker all fell in a flurry of wickets after lunch.

Fraser survived a strong shout for leg before when on nought and proceeded to help Welwyn GC into a much better position. Hussain and Laraman also chipped in with quick runs.

The win moved Park up a place in the table and capped a fantastic day for the club with five out of the club's six league teams victorious.

The second team continued their progress up the Saracens Herts League Division Two with an impressive win over Abbots Langley.

Nick Simpson and Karl Padalia took two wickets apiece and skipper Jarrod Turner picked up 3-49 as the home side were kept to 214-7.

Turner struck his second successive century with a superb 114 and with Steve Gregory put on 78 for the first wicket.

Turner was out on 164 and Terry Morton (51) and Stuart Burford (23) all but saw them home before both were out shortly before the end, winning with eight balls to spare by six wickets.

The Park's only defeat was suffered by the thirds who went down by six wickets to Old Owens.

Jeremy Goodacre struck a powerful 87 in a disappointing team batting display as spinner Kumar (7-42) took control of the match almost single-handedly.

After his bowling had dismissed the Park for 174, his impressive batting with an innings of 97no led his team to a comfortable win by six wickets.

Robbie Woodburn's left-arm medium pace led the fourths to a win against Flamstead.

His 5-30 was well supported by Michael Fisher (4-54) as the visitors were dismissed for 123.

They were chasing the Park's 144 where openers Graham Martin (37) and Bret Painter (26) laid a crucial platform.

Guy Johnson, a new recruit from Cottered, marked his league debut with a five-wicket haul as the fifths won against Harpenden Dolphins.

He took 5-37 to carve through the home side's batting for only 82.

Mark Woods led a brutal assault on the home team's bowlers in hammering 62no for a 10-wicket win.

The sixth team also enjoyed their second win in a row by defeating Old Owens 3rds. The Leather twins wreaked havoc as the home side were bowled out for 100 with James taking 5-30 and Richard 2-32. Phil Stevens struck a flourishing 32 as they won with ease by seven wickets.