HITCHIN were 35-run winners against St Albans at Lucas Lane in the Saracens Herts League Division One. Craig Millwood made 51, Will Pugh 44 and scores in the 30s from Ben Thomson and Simon Mayes helped Hitchin post 207-8 from their 53 overs, before Dave M

HITCHIN were 35-run winners against St Albans at Lucas Lane in the Saracens Herts League Division One.

Craig Millwood made 51, Will Pugh 44 and scores in the 30s from Ben Thomson and Simon Mayes helped Hitchin post 207-8 from their 53 overs, before Dave Moore was once again the main man with the ball, claiming 6-50 as St Albans were all out for 172.

It was a good performance with the willow that set up the victory for Hitchin, as they won the toss and chose to bat first.

Despite losing Atul Ranade for 15 with the score on 32, Hitchin raced past the hundred mark when Millwood and Thomson were at the crease as they played some excellent shots all around the ground.

However, when Millwood fell after reaching his half-century, and Thomson went quickly after, Hitchin were 106-3 and they entered a period of watchfulness that saw the score rate slow down.

Mayes and Pugh started to build the momentum as Hitchin reached 172-5 with a few overs left.

Wanting to get past 200, Hitchin's lower order were playing their shots and this did mean that a few cheap wickets fell, but with Mayes finishing on 32no, this was achieved.

After tea, Moore and Simon Bayston opened the bowling, and it was the latter who took the first wicket with only one run on the board.

St Albans continued to struggle early on as they lost a further four wickets for only 45 runs.

However a century partnership between Hart and Goodwin for St Albans took them right back into the match, but it was the introduction of Ashley Hammond that ended their hopes.

He removed Hart thanks to a brilliant catch by Bayston for 59, before trapping Goodwin leg before for 71. This left the Saints on 161-7 and still needing 47 for victory.

Moore was on at the other end, and he wrapped up the tail, and also picked up his fifth 'five-for' in 2008 as St Albans were all out for 172, giving Hitchin a much-needed 30 points.

* The seconds were also victors as they overcame Abbots Langley seconds by 12 runs in Division Six.

Mick Lee top scored with 61, and there were several other useful contributions with the bat as Hitchin posted a score of 186-7 before Gavin Bidgood's five wickets ended Abbots' hopes of victory after they were 86-0.

The thirds were on the wrong end of a draw against Flamstead seconds. Chasing 275-2, they finished on 196-5 thanks to a century from Jonny Gray.

* Hitchin suffered a heavy 159-run defeat against Northchurch in their Chess Valley fixture on Sunday.

The opposition won the toss and elected to bat first, and piled on the runs, making 283-9 in their 45 overs with opener Andy Wright scoring 104.

With the ball, Pete Gale and Ian Bowyer claimed three wickets each, but the score proved far too many for Hitchin's depleted line-up.

They scored just 124 all out, with Bowyer also in the runs, making 42, and Craig Millwood 24no.