St Albans City were no match for Hitchin on Saturday as they went down to a 64-run loss against Hitchin.

The visitors won the toss at Clarence Park and opted to bat first - a decision which looked to be a poor one when they were reduced to 12-1.

However, they would soon steady the ship as useful scores from three of their number took them beyond 100.

Chris Maylin started the recovery, scoring 30 as an opener, and Jonny Harris (54) and Salim Hussain (48) put Hitchin in the ascendancy.

The trios’ efforts were added to by a useful 29 from Steven Flint as Hitchin closed on 208-8.

Simon White enjoyed the most success with the ball, finishing the day with 3-19, while Max Capaldi (2-55) and Jack Winfield (1-13) also struck.

St Albans’ response with the bat lacked any real quality from the get go and they slumped to 19-3 after a torrid start to their innings.

They struggled to recover from the early setback and the loss of three more wickets for just 26 runs meant a crushing defeat was on the cards.

Capaldi and Phil Carey did more than most to ensure that didn’t happen and respective scores of 43 and 35 added some respectability to the St Albans score.

Regardless it wasn’t enough for the hosts and they were bowled out for 136 in the 40th over.

Shaftab Khalid took the majority of the plaudits with the ball for Hitchin, collecting 3-16.

Sandeep Singh enjoyed a similarly profitable afternoon on his way to 3-36 and there was a wicket apiece for Hussain (1-7) Rishi Chandarana (1-20), Asif Mahmood (1-20) and Harris (1-24).

St Albans will look to bounce back from the loss when they take on Radlett Seconds at Cobden Hill on Saturday.

Nothing could split Harpenden and North Mymms as they played out a draw at Home Farm, despite an impressive bating display from Harps.

Opener Gregg Cooper led from the front by scoring 81, but it was James Latham who really caught the eye as Harpenden scored 262-8.

He took just 79 deliveries to smash his way to 85 in a knock which included six fours and three sixes.

Hamza Qayyum was the most effective of the Mymms bowlers and claimed 3-55, while Jigar Mehta (2-63) also had joy with the ball.

Harpenden’s imposing score meant they had every chance of securing victory, but they were instead frustrated by a stubborn Mymms order.

Nasan Jeyaratram top scored with an unbeaten 73 as Harpenden failed to bowl Mymms out and they finished on 176-5.

Ben Frazer led the Harpenden bowling effort, with figures of 3-65.

London Colney were also held to a stalemate, drawing with Welwyn Garden City Thirds.

After being bowled out for 22, Colney would have been confident of claiming a win, but couldn’t dislodge the Welwyn order.

They did not help themselves in the field and were made to rue a number of dropped catches as Welwyn closed on 183-6.