Saracens Herts League cricket round-up Baldock slumped to a desperate defeat at Sandridge. Sandridge batted first on a bowler friendly and lively wicket and they posted 219-5 off 53 overs in the Division Five clash. This was a fantastic effort as the pitc

Saracens Herts League cricket round-up

Baldock slumped to a desperate defeat at Sandridge.

Sandridge batted first on a bowler friendly and lively wicket and they posted 219-5 off 53 overs in the Division Five clash.

This was a fantastic effort as the pitch probably suggested that 150 would be par. None of Baldock's bowlers managed to bowl the right lines or lengths to trouble the batsmen consistently and the fielding was also shabby.

In reply Baldock only managed 121 all out as the bowlers used the conditions to rip through the top order. Only Rob Cant (31) and Giles Naylor (23) came to terms with them.

The seconds thrashed their Hatfield Hyde counterparts by nine wickets.

Wickets fell regularly as Hatfield Hyde were all out for 72 in just 29.3 overs. An excellent spell of accurate and penetrative bowling by Chris Lewis (7-26 in 15 overs) was well supported by Phil Lucy (3-42).

A fine innings of 56no by Richie Waters, which included many crashing boundaries, ensured that Baldock won by nine wickets by tea, reaching their target in less than 15 overs.

* Weston's excellent batting form continued with a superlative display against Rickmansworth 2nds at home in Division Eight, posting more than 250 for the fourth game in a row.

Despite another impressive contribution from Julian Rudder (58), Weston struggled to reach 81-4 at one stage.

In-form Orville Batson, ably supported by Phil Moore (40), began to batter the Rickmansworth attack to all parts of the ground as the pair put on 151.

Batson holed out just six runs short of another deserved century and Weston declared on 259-9.

Weston enjoyed a magical start to the visitors' innings, with Gary Downes ripping out the stumps of the opening and number three batsmen in the first over without a run on the board.

John Lester also had immediate success in his first over, cutting a ball back off the seam to dismiss the other opener to leave the visitors reeling on 0-3 off just two overs.

Rickmansworth's fourth wicket pairing gradually clawed their way back to some resemblance of respectability, putting on 82 before wickets began to tumble again.

The important breakthrough came via skipper Marcus Peckham, who took two wickets in consecutive balls.

Rickmansworth were eventually dismissed for 145 in the 39th over, with the final wicket taken by Luke Richards. Peckham finished with 5-33 off 10 overs, his best figures this season.

* Bragbury hit the dizzy heights of top spot in Division 10 following a big run chase.

They were playing at the new Fairfield Park ground against Letchworth 4ths.

Letchworth declared at 247-9 off 51.2 overs, Rob Steptoe finishing with 3-79 and Mark Dobbs 5-82.

Bragbury got off to a good start through Martin Fisher (48) and Paul Hitchcock (39). Graham Clarke (52) continued the chase before it was left to Mark Dobbs (46) and skipper Steve Newman (30) to hit the winning runs with 10 balls to spare.