A derby win for Potters Bar over North Mymms keeps their faint Herts Cricket League title hopes alive for now - but it is looking bleak for Old Owens at the other end of the table.

Bar were in sumptuous form against their neighbours, scampering to a handsome 119-run success at The Walk.

The happiness at the win though was tempered by the news that Harpenden had continued their winning run against Radlett, keeping them 38 points clear at the top with three games remaining.

Bar go to Harpenden on the last day but the title race could be over by then.

Winning the toss in the derby, Bar skipper Luke Chapman plumped for batting first although they got off to a sedate start with the Mymms attack accurate early on.

A lightening quick outfield did allow boundaries to come though and Steve Gale and James Seward hit three each inside 18 balls to get the scoreboard moving a little quicker.

Seward departed though with Bar on 39 and his replacement, Reece Hussain, lasted for just eight balls as he went for a duck, bowled by a lovely delivery from Dharmarajsinh Jhala for 0.

There was concern when Bar found themselves on 87-4 but Gale kept chugging away and 100 came up in the 26th over.

He and Anmol Maheshram picked up single after single as they batted for some time, putting on 36 together before the opener was finally out for 45, chopping at and missing a Sabarish Ganesh delivery.

Another wicket followed to leave Bar on 139-7 but Maheshram continued to bat sensibly on his way to 33, with Chapman putting the bad ball away, getting five boundaries in his 28.

It helped the home side get up to 190 with four Mymms bowlers getting two wickets and very similar figures, the spread of runs contained between 34 and 39.

But any hopes that Mymms could leapfrog their hosts ended in a little more than 90 minutes, as Bar produced one of their best performances in the field this season.

Jigar Mehta found the edge of Guganeshan Muralitharan's bat in the first over and Yuvresh Malhotra disappeared in the very next set of six, leaving Mymms 5-2.

James Scott had got the second victim, his 100th wicket in Potters Bar colours, and he won go on to claim a hugely impressive 5-26 in his 10 overs.

He had three of them inside 10 overs and Mehta took another two in the 11th over to leave Mymms sitting stunned on 22-6.

And it only got slightly better for the visitors.

Rhys Wynne was undone by a quicker Scott arm-ball for zero and the Bar man's fifth wicket, a flighted delivery that bowled Richard Soulsby through the gate for a top score of 29, left Mymms on 52-8.

Chapman and Callum Lloyd wrapped up the win in time for the football final scores.

Jigar Mehta got 3-13 for Potters Bar against North Mymms. Picture: KARYN HADDONJigar Mehta got 3-13 for Potters Bar against North Mymms. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Karyn Haddon)

However, at the other end of the table, Old Owens are now doomed to at least a relegation play-off after a 90-run loss at home to West Herts.

They are 44 points behind Shenley Village and safety while Bishop's Stortford, one spot above them, hold a 28-point advantage.

Rhys Carter was the pick of the bowlers as West Herts batted first, taking 2-71 as the Watford side got to 250-6 in their 50 overs.

And despite a half-decent start, with 57 for the first wicket between Ralph Lane and Danyaal Khalid, they crumbled away to finish all out on 160 in the 42nd over.

Khalid was top scorer with 48.

Owens go to North Mymms on Saturday while Potters Bar are away to Radlett.