Welwyn Garden City successfully claimed a draw at home to Potters Bar in the Herts Cricket League despite a mammoth score from the visitors.

Bar had made 304-3 before taking a leaf out of England's book and declaring with time to spare.

Four of their five batsmen made 50 or more with the fifth, Patrick Scott, having the perfectly valid excuse of having only faced seven balls.

He still got to 10 but that was well adrift of his team-mates, the nearest being opener James Scott who managed a run-a-ball 50.

He, along with James Seward, put on 102 for the first wicket with Seward going on to make 71, part of a 71-run partnership with Reece Hussain.

But it was the county man who would top score, the declaration coming two balls after he got to his century.

He finished on 101 not out, made from 107 deliveries and containing 10 fours and a six, and together with Charlie Scott's 63, it helped Bar add another 110 for the third wicket.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Radhakrishna Marripati celebrates a wicket for WGC against Potters Bar. Picture: GAVIN ELLIS/TGS PHOTORadhakrishna Marripati celebrates a wicket for WGC against Potters Bar. Picture: GAVIN ELLIS/TGS PHOTO (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo)

Radhakrishna Marripati was the one Welwyn bowler to make true inroads, finishing on 2-60 having bowled for 14 overs.

He was also involved in the run-out that accounted for Charlie Scott.

Chasing a large total meant a positive start to Welwyn's innings was not only desired, but probably essential too.

If anything though Dylan Van Der Westhuizen was a little too positive and after hitting the boundary three times, he was caught off Callum Lloyd for a run-a-ball 15.

Anmol Maheshram then had both Andrew Lovell and Fayaz Homyoon caught, the latter for 38, and Welwyn's hopes of victory seem irrevocably diminished at 67-3 in 18 overs.

Marripati was having a good day and he, along with Jack Clayton, repaired some of the damage with an entertaining 67 in just 65 balls.

It ended when Clayton received the only ball that turned all day, edging Luke Chapman and being well caught by Hussain for a dangerous looking 32 off 30 balls.

Having scored his fourth 50 in five innings, the consistent Marripati was getting Bar worried and he lifted the home side to 176, leaving them with 129 away from victory and 24 overs in which to get them.

Another great catch by Hussain ended his fun on 63 though, James Scott the bowler, and Maheshram dismissed Dylan Parker for 36.

At this point, a draw seemed the only positive outcome for Welwyn but the Emerton brothers, led by 60 from skipper Connor, dragged them closer to the target with a partnership of 52.

Shay Emerton stuck around to the end with 14, in what was his first game since a serious illness, but in the end neither side could get the job done in the time remaining, WGC eventually finishing on 271-7 after batting for 63 overs.

Maheshram was the pick of the Potters Bar bowlers with 3-79.

With Hertford and Harpenden both winning, WGC have slipped into the bottom two.

Potters Bar meanwhile jumped up to top spot courtesy of a defeat for Radlett.

They host third-placed Totteridge Millhillians next with Welwyn away to North Mymms.