Knebworth Park cruised to an easy win over Hitchin in the first round of the Cockspur National Cup. They won by six wickets with more than 10 overs to spare on Sunday. Chasing 147 to win, Adrian Holmes (52) and David Lowe (45) looked in excellent form in

Knebworth Park cruised to an easy win over Hitchin in the first round of the Cockspur National Cup.

They won by six wickets with more than 10 overs to spare on Sunday.

Chasing 147 to win, Adrian Holmes (52) and David Lowe (45) looked in excellent form in an opening stand of 84, scoring at five an over in spite of the slow outfield.

After Lowe misjudged a drive and was caught off Will Pugh, the Park innings stuttered briefly when Ashley Hammond dismissed Holmes and Shaun Robinson in successive deliveries.

Terry Morton (16no) saw them home to face Radlett at home in the next round on May 14.

Earlier, Tom Hemingway's off-spin broke the back of the Hitchin batting with four wickets, albeit proving expensive with his nine overs being hit for 51. Sam McCrow, captaining in the absence of Ryan Skeggs, bagged 2-29 and Adam Sergeant picked up 2-32 as the home side were bowled out for 146 in the 41st over.

Letchworth survived an amazing onslaught from the North Middlesex middle order before booking their place in the second round of the same cup on Sunday at Whitethorn Lane.

Batting first, a consistent performance helped Letchworth reach 230-7 off their 45 overs with major contributions from skipper Colin Letford (44), Ian Bowyer (42no), Richard Walsh (39), Steve March (33) and Ben Wallis (29).

North Middlesex looked dead and buried after 22 overs as Tom Cranston (3-20) helped reduce them to 49-5 but then an astonishing assault by the middle order on the Letchworth spin attack brought 124 runs off 12 overs, leaving the visitors odds on to win.

Richard Jerome (1-61) and Adam Jenkins (1-50) both went for more than 10 an over but the ever dependable Andy Newland returned to take a vital wicket. When Wootton needlessly ran himself out for 70, the pendulum swung back to Letchworth as Newland (3-24) tidied up the innings for 199.

Letchworth and Knebworth met in a friendly on Saturday and Park's new player Rob Murphy struck an impressive 80 in a promising opening stand of 57 with Ben Lewis (22).

The innings then lost its way with only Cameron Boyd (30no including 16 off the last over) reaching double figures in a disappointing total of 155-8.

Ian Bowyer (3-31), Cranston (2-36) and Gurdeep Jandhu (2-37) were the main wicket takers for Letchworth.

Sergeant's remarkable figures of 2-4 in nine overs restricted Letchworth and with Anthony Pratt taking 3-29, Letchworth had to work hard for their victory. March (51), Cranston (37no) and Jerome (18 not out) saw them home with one ball and three wickets to spare.

Park seconds raced to victory in their match at home to Letchworth.

Steve Gregory (80), Shaun Robinson (64) and Stuart Burford (39) took only 37 overs to pass the visitors' total of 221-9.

Letchworth's new player Dave Albon held their batting together with a determined 101no and with support from tailender John Gordan (40) lifted them from trouble at 135-7 but their bowling failed to apply any pressure on Park who won by seven wickets.

P There were two centurions as both the Ickleford cricket teams won in the Broadview Windows North Herts League Division Two.

Ickleford Cricketers began their campaign with a comfortable win over Codicote.

Batting first, their total of 293-6 was based on a superb 121-run opening stand between Pete Watson (116) and Scott Crouch (53).

This was then added to by Jamin Patel who smashed a quickfire 63.

Dave Allen bowled a tight spell as Codicote replied and spinner Tom Salusbury took 2-49 as Codicote moved steadily towards a reasonable 216-6 in their 40 overs.

An astonishing innings from Dan Watson dominated the Ickleford innings against Titanic.

He hit a brutal 145 - his maiden century - which included 11 sixes and 12 fours. He was well supported by Brett Blaker (49), Steve Munnery (23) and Ian Cheesman (22) as Ickleford rattled up 278-9.

Titanic could never match the run rate and fell well short on 195 all out. Watson took three wickets and Munnery two as Ickleford eased home.