Radlett's openers again drove the side to a convincing win against Totteridge Millhillians by 178 runs in a bottom versus top clash in the Herts League Premier Division.

Their first-wicket stand was worth 196 at a rate approaching seven runs an over. Fraser Crawford hit 121 off 120 balls and Jon Jon Smuts 104 off 93 balls – a back-to-back century for the South African – as they became the first opening batsmen to score a hundred each in any first-team match in Radlett’s history.

Smuts made the home side pay for dropping a powerful sweep at square leg off former England off-spinner John Emburey early on, but Crawford’s innings was chanceless and contained four sixes along the way.

Crawford and Smuts had piled up a club record 257 against Welwyn Garden City the previous Saturday, but the Totteridge strip was no batting paradise as their team-mates discovered. Only Tom Jenkins managed to stay long enough to push the score along with a rapid 46 not out.

In the last match of the block of 50-overs the champions scored 347-7, and only once before had this total been exceeded in a Radlett league game. It was a crushing score in the conditions, especially when the pace of Randeep Saghera removed three of the top order, all catches to Jenkins at the wicket, including a brilliant diving effort as Totteridge were all out for 169 inside 36 overs.

Elsewhere, Shenley Village were also winners. They beat Leverstock Green by five wickets in their Division One clash after skittling the Greens out for 187.

Shenley got past that total in 36 overs with Kristoffer Nissen’s 67 not out the top score in their reply which featured a knock of 41 from opener Charles Thurston as Shenley got the job done for the loss of five wickets. Adam Thomas claimed three for 43.