Baldock are faltering in their promotion push after a nail-biting loss at Parkfield and Headstone. The loss still leaves Baldock in fifth place but 32 points behind fourth. It now looks like only three wins from the last three games will make promotion po

Baldock are faltering in their promotion push after a nail-biting loss at Parkfield and Headstone.

The loss still leaves Baldock in fifth place but 32 points behind fourth.

It now looks like only three wins from the last three games will make promotion possible. They host Datchworth this Saturday.

Having won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked a bowler friendly wicket, Baldock were made to wait for the breakthrough as Ian Schmid batted well in tricky conditions.

It was when Logan Newman was introduced after 12 overs that the breakthrough came as he yorked the other opener.

Newman initially bowled straight and fast and it paid off as he followed up with two more victims including the valuable wicket of the dangerous Schmid for 36.

Alistair Jones took the fourth wicket and Baldock were on top with the wicket playing slowly and unpredictably.

The two bowlers then chipped away over the next 20 overs taking four more wickets between them.

Jones then wrapped the innings up as Parkfield got to 129 all out off 44.2 overs.

Newman, in his first game for a while, took 4-53 and Jones 5-41 from 21.2 overs.

Baldock's reply was awful as Tom Dupuy and the Peacock brothers were dismissed early.

Barry Gazely and Andy Payne then repaired some damage taking the score to 38-3 when Gazely took a glancing blow to the head from a ball that popped and had to take a short break.

This brought in Rob Cant and he was trapped leg before in slightly dubious fashion and Baldock were struggling.

Gazely rejoined the fray but the loss of Payne for 17 and then Gazely for 28 left Parkfield strong favourites.

The lower order battled away and with Ranjit Rayat going well hopes were raised of a win.

Rayat's excellent unbeaten 32 almost managed it as he put on 45 with the last four wickets but the last wicket fell at 121 and Baldock lost by eight runs.

* The seconds lost to Parkfield seconds by seven wickets.

Baldock batted first and got 164 all out thanks mainly to fifty from Simon Goodlad. Parkfield made light work of the target, reaching 167-3 in just 33 overs thanks to a century from their captain while Phil Lucy took 2-41.

The thirds lost again and are certain to be relegated after a tough first season in Division 13.

Baldock batted first and got 137-7 in their allotted overs.

The innings of the day was from under-14 captain Jack Mead who scored his maiden senior fifty.

Opponents Old Albanians fourths got to the target easily for the loss of only two wickets in 31.5 overs.