It was a day to remember for two Knebworth Park batsmen - as their historic batting performances led to a crushing win over Letchworth seconds.

Louis Champion led the huge run fest with a double century, finishing exactly on an unbeaten 200 as Park stormed to a 207-run victory in Division Two B of the Herts Cricket League. 

His innings included 26 fours and six maximums, helping to put on 245 for the fourth wicket with Charlie Randall. 

It was Champion's first double century and only the second in club history, Australian T20 star Nathan Reardon being the other. 

Champion's partner in crime was also celebrating though, his 102 not out being the first time he has reached three figures. 

It was a poignant moment for the pair who came through the Park ranks in the same junior sides. 

For Knebworth though it was all part of a mammoth 383-3 in their 50 overs. 

Letchworth's young left arm pace bowler, Dylan Williams, impressed at times but sadly felt the brunt of the batting onslaught. 

Zac Hayes' leg spin did have some joy though and he finished on 2-30 

Letchworth knew they had a mountain to climb in reply but they did themselves no favours with the loss of three early wickets. 

Kobie Richmond's 4-59 was also a contributing factor while new Park skipper Matt Hutchinson bagged 3-46. 

It meant Letchworth finished on 176 with 39 from Liam Bishton and Joe Randall's 33 their top scores. 

Letchworth's first team were left hugely frustrated as they lost by just three runs at home to Old Elizabethans in Division One.

Chasing a target of 208, David Albon had taken 3-43 to give them a target of 208 to chase and he almost brought it home with the bat too.

But with 48 to his name, he was run out after the penultimate delivery, leaving Letchworth agonisingly short.

Will Aitkenhead was the scorer with 49.

In the same division there was an equally tough loss for Hitchin against Chorleywood, nine runs the margin this time.

Shaftab Khalid (3-36) and Luke Day (3-45) and Sam Rippington (2-36) had done the damage with the ball and a good start, with Day's 57 leading the way, had seemingly set Hitchin on the path to victory.

However, with 21 runs still to get, they tumbled from 202-6 to 204-9 and Sanhay Chandarana's dismissal for 47 to the second ball of the final over handed the visitors to Lucas Lane the spoils.

Ickleford suffered a crushing 192-run defeat to Harpenden in Division Two A.

Harpenden were put into bat and when George Crouch (2-45) and Sam Draper got early wickets, the match seemed in the balance.

But Ickleford were unable to contain the powerful Harpenden batting line-up any further and the home side eased to 293-4.

Ickleford’s fragile batting never competed with this huge total and they lost early wickets.

There was some late resistance from Richard Peareth (21), Sam Draper (19) and Nadeem Akhtar (19*) but they were all out for 101.

Despite losing by five wickets to Botany Bay, Ickleford's seconds put in an improved performance.

They made a poor start, losing early wickets, but an excellent partnership between Adam Ross (43) and Will Macintosh (21) led the recovery before Faiasal Khan hit a quick fire 30 not out to take the score to 177.

The Bay sailed home in their innings but even here there was positives for Ickleford, who fielded four junior players, as Ollie Ellis-Holmes took 2-17 and Khan 2-39.

The thirds though had a powerful win over their Datchworth counterparts on a wicket that offered something for bowlers and batsmen.

Datch were put into bat but a devastating opening spell from Mark Nunneley (2-1) and Jayden Lidder (2-5) meant they were five down for just two runs.

They ended all out on 41 with James Kench taking 4-6.

In reply, Matteo Peareth (17) and Jake Ellis-Holmes (18) eased Ickleford to the win in eight overs.

The fourths beat Hitchin sixths in a high scoring but tight game.

Hitchin won the toss and decided to bat but wilted to 61-5 with some very accurate bowling from Bharath Puttur (4-29) and Harry Davies.

They eventually got to 216 with two wickets each for Shashi Mishra and Chris Coleman.

Ickleford had a good start, reaching 75-0, before both openers were dismissed, Ashish Mishra for 33 and Ian Cheesman on 21.

Coleman and Dan Watson (24) took the score past 100 before Watson was bowled but the score kept edging up and up.

They still needed 70 with just four wickets remaining but, despite Coleman going for 49, Sam Larsen, Harry Davies and Phil Maguire added the runs required.

Preston were beaten by 97 runs away to Championship favourites Shenley Village.

The hosts made 283-7 batting first, 142 of them coming from Charles Thurston in 135 balls, While Daniel Scholz took three wickets for Preston and Ed Wharton and Max Anderson two each.

The reply though was done in 39 overs, Wharton's 80 in just 45 deliveries and containing nine fours and five sixes the standout innings.