A wet day meant a lot of fixtures in the Herts Cricket League were abandoned or cancelled but some got to play  - and Hitchin turned their outing into a win at St Margaretsbury.

A superb effort by the home groundstaff allowed for a 30-over-a-side contest and it was Hitchin who won the toss and elected to bat.

They adopted an aggressive approach too so while there were consistent wickets, four ducks among the innings, there were also a huge amount of runs.

Toqueer Hussain smashed 57 in just 38 balls while Saad Waqas got 28 and there was an important 32 from James Tilbury at number 10.

That got them to 187 and in reply, St Margaretsbury made a assured start.

The run rate was always an issue though and they eventually limped to 147-8, 40 runs short.

Hussain returned to be pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-16.

The only other game Hitchin managed to play was their fifths, also at St Margaretsbury and also ending in a victory.

It was in essence a T20 match where the hosts made 112, James Moore getting 3-1 in 1.4 overs.

In reply Hitchin passed the total in the 18th over for the loss of four wickets, Cameron Carr being the batting mainstay with 52.

Ickleford's only game saw their firsts produce an excellent performance to beat Hemel Hempstead in Division Three A.

Their bowlers made a very good start and were led by Axel Morris with 2-16, all of which helped them hold Hemel to 141-5.

Ickleford paced their reply in exemplary fashion and there was a really good partnership of 74 between Eswar Krishnamurthy, who was unbeaten on 42, and Duncan Jenner who made 40.

They provided the platform needed and Sadat Sheraz (10) and Sam Draper (30 not out) applied the acceleration to see Ickleford home with 10 balls and seven wickets in hand.

The better weather on Sunday meant there was no problem with the fixture with Markyate, one Ickleford won. 

The opposition made 178 to set a stiff target with Leo Chan and Richard Peareth each taking two wickets.

Dave Baker provided the stability in Ickleford’s reply with a measured 49 while there was a rapid 23 from Adam Ross and a bludgeoned 36 from Sheraz.

Skipper Charlie Jupp (22*) and Peareth (16*) then guided Ickleford to a well-earned victory.

Stevenage were also winners in Division Two A, their first success of the season.

They beat Watford Town away by six wickets after a solid performance with bat and ball.

Lee Cope took 3-12 in his seven overs as Watford were left stuck on 126-7 in the rain-reduced match.

Anjani Singh top scored with the bat, getting 31, and Sean Tyler (14*) and William Kennard (23*) eased Stevenage home with more than five overs to spare.

Letchworth lost though in the Championship, beaten in the Garden City derby at home to Welwyn.

They made 131 before the visitors raced home inside 20 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Harry Aitkenhead top-scored with 41 while Nathan Sprittles chipped in with 33.

Preston's top-of-the-table clash with Dunstable Town was one of the victims of the weather, as was the club's other three fixtures, but there was one moment to celebrate in the week, the inaugural match for their women's team.

They played Ickwell and considering both teams have only been together for a little more than a month, they served up a treat.

Playing pairs format there were some excellent skills on show from both sides.

Preston managed to win the match but both clubs agreed that the more pleasing aspect was to see this game take place in the first place.

More are hoped for over the rest of the summer.

and we hope to see more games over the summer for this brilliant group. Many thanks to Ickwell CC for being excellent and great fun opposition.