A trio of three-fers did most of the damage for Totteridge Millhillians Seconds as they eased to a five wicket win over St Albans.

The loss, which is St Albans' fourth on the spin and means they won just once throughout June, has helped undermine a productive start to the campaign for the Clarence Park club.

Thomas Smith was the pick of the Totteridge bowlers as he helped himself to 3-33 from 9.5 overs in the mid-table meeting.

He was by no means alone in causing the St Albans batsmen repeated problems with ball in hand.

Amir Mapara (3-38) also looked on good form and there was 3-45 for Rizwan Siddiqui.

The final St Albans wicket was collected by Adnan Mohammed who finished the afternoon with 1-16 to his name.

All in all, the quartets' efforts with the ball ensured St Albans were all out for 176 with 48.5 overs on the board.

The figure looked highly achievable and the Saints needed to be at their best if they were to come away from the game with any tangible reward.

They looked to be making good headway towards doing just that when openers Smith and Mitesh Bhimjiyani were dismissed for four and five respectively.

However, Aleem Hussain arrived at the crease to turn the momentum back in Totteridge's favour as he hit 78 off 83 deliveries before being stumped.

His knock was enough to take his side to within touching distance of victory and useful scores of 35 from Hilton Nathanson and 26 not out for Nozmul Hussain got Totteridge over the line.

The defeat sees St Albans drop below Totteridge in the Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Two A table to seventh.

The Clarence Park outfit will, once again, look to return to winning ways when they take on Hitchin on Saturday.

It will be a tough task with Hitchin sitting second.