Knebworth Park s cricketers had a runaway victory over Stevenage in the first round of the Cockspur National Cup on Sunday. Opener David Lowe fell a boundary short of his ton to make the score 135-3. Park then launched a late assault through Adrian Holmes

Knebworth Park's cricketers had a runaway victory over Stevenage in the first round of the Cockspur National Cup on Sunday.

Opener David Lowe fell a boundary short of his ton to make the score 135-3.

Park then launched a late assault through Adrian Holmes (53) and a brutal 63 from Shaun Robinson.

With a total of 263-5 to chase from 45 overs, Stevenage collapsed to 60-6, with Chris Brook (4-33) and Robinson (3-26) the main beneficiaries.

Their final total of 110 all out represented a poor effort on a good surface.

In the next round, the Park are away at Letchworth who had a six-wicket win in Essex at Hutton.

The home side reached 242-6 off their 45 overs despite a magnificent spell of leg spin by Adam Jenkins who took 2-21 off his nine overs with Andy Newland taking 2-25 off eight.

This target proved comfortably within reach for Letchworth who cruised home by six wickets with everyone contributing.

Simon Elliott (23), John Hilliard (43), Richard Walsh (27) and Dave Albon (24) featured before skipper Steve March (51no) and Sam Booth (47no) saw the visitors home with eight balls to spare.

Hitchin beat Aztecs from Ilford by 73 runs in the same competition.

Skipper Craig Millwood won the toss and elected to bat first.

Hitchin got off to a flying start thanks to some aggressive batting from Dave Moore who scored 40 off 35 balls.

Oli Hammond hit 29 off 22 balls to leave Hitchin at 112-2.

Jimmy Lewis (42) added further runs with debutant Andrew Evans and Paul Smith.

Hitchin were finally bowled all out with two overs remaining for 223.

In reply, Aztecs got off to a good start but the introduction of the slow bowlers really tied them down.

Simon Bayston took the first three wickets before Letchworth old boy Ian Bowyer turned the screw on Aztecs.

Bayston finished with four wickets, as did Bowyer whose 4.4 overs cost 10 runs as Aztecs were bowled all out for 150.

* Letchworth beat Knebworth Park in Saturday's friendly by 48 runs.

Adrian Holmes (33), Adam Sergeant (35) and Tony Skeggs (27) were the only Park batsmen to make any impression as they slid to 167 in chasing the visitors' 215 all out.

Three wickets for Letchworth's new Aussie James Donnelly and two each for Richard Barclay and Richard Jerome helped bowl out the home side.

Earlier, Phil Simpson took an impressive 5-53 after Simon Elliott (76) and Steve March (45) had built a strong platform for Letchworth.

The seconds also went down to Letchworth after being rolled over for 117 before losing by seven wickets.

Park's last six wickets fell for only five runs with Letchworth skipper Graham Bishton taking 3-3 and his 46no then saw the home team to victory.

There was a thrilling finish to the third team game as Park won by a run in the penultimate over.

Mark Woods and Alex Richmond with 51 apiece helped Knebworth to 185-7.

Josh Furness (76) led a spirited reply by Letchworth before losing by one run to a run out with eight balls still remaining! Matt Hutchinson took three wickets in an over.

Ian Woods (3-3) and skipper Sam Jones (2-12) were the pick of the bowlers as the fourths bowled out Letchworth for 165.

John Inman's 59 helped Knebworth cruise home by five wickets.

* Stevenage and Preston played out a draw in Saturday's low-scoring friendly.

Barry Hann's unbeaten 76 took the Stevenage total to 157-8 in 51 overs before the declaration was made.

Ian Brown picked up three early wickets before Adam Shelley's unbeaten 53 helped Preston finish 18 runs short with two wickets left.

* Both Hitchin sides won their respective friendly fixtures against Flitwick.

The firsts, playing at Flitwick, recorded a four-wicket win despite chasing only a modest target of 115.

Simon Bayston, Ian Bowyer, Ashley Hammond and Matt Counsell took two wickets each.

Hitchin were 17-3 and 77-6 before opener Craig Millwood (53no) and Bayston (21no) saw Hitchin home.

In the second team clash, Hitchin posted 201-9 from 45 overs before Mike Baker, Henry Snowdon and Tom Newland took three wickets each as Flitwick collapsed to just 69 all out.

* Matt Hicks was the undoubted star as Henlow beat Vauxhall Motors by three wickets in Sunday's friendly.

Hicks first claimed 5-34 in eight overs as the visitors were dismissed for 171 in the 40-over game.

Then after opener James Chudley had got the reply off to a good start with 32, Hicks' unbeaten 65 guided his side to a three-wicket win with nearly four overs to spare.