Baldock slipped down to fourth in the Saracens Herts League Division Five after suffering a second defeat to leaders Holtwhites Trinibis. On winning the toss, Baldock decided to bat and got off to a solid start as the Peacock brothers, James and Robert, b

Baldock slipped down to fourth in the Saracens Herts League Division Five after suffering a second defeat to leaders Holtwhites Trinibis.

On winning the toss, Baldock decided to bat and got off to a solid start as the Peacock brothers, James and Robert, battled hard against some accurate and often hostile bowling from the hosts.

The pair added 65 for the first wicket before Robert fell for 28. James and Andy Payne then took the total to 105-2 at drinks as the wicket and the weather seemed to improve.

The key wicket of James fell at 150 as he tried to push the score on as wickets tumbled around him. He scored a brilliant 78 in the circumstances but his dismissal saw Baldock capitulate to 160 all out in the last over.

Holtwhites got off to a flier and the hosts put on 35 in the first five overs. It was only when the new ball was taken by Matt Ayre and Alistair Jones that some order was restored as the pair bowled with more control which paid off as Hewitt fell to Jones for 35.

Abu Monsur had Middlesex junior Bacchus-Brown caught behind but then skipper Habib took control. His innings of 78no saw his team home by six wickets.

Tim Dean, after his amazing 9-42 against Old Elizabethans the previous Saturday - the best bowling figures at Baldock since the 1970s - took 2-51 in nine overs.

# The seconds had a winning draw against Monken Hadley.

Baldock batted first and after being 77-7, they posted a good 199 all out. Andy French scored 53 and Logan Newman 40 as the pair batted sensibly to help their side.

In response, Monken were unable to get going and batted out a draw at 139-7. Wickets were shared among the bowlers.

The thirds secured their first win. Skipper Frank Taylor won the toss and elected to bat and his openers did a great job by putting on a hundred for the first wicket.

Both Robin Watts and Nick Blenkin got fifties and helped the team get to 187-8 off 47 overs.

They then bowled out Sawbridgeworth fifths for 118 with Santoc Singh taking four wickets.

Datchworth again failed to take the final wicket as they were held to a draw at Chorleywood seconds.

After losing the toss, stand-in skipper Nick Webb was not happy at being asked to bat but made sure his side achieved maximum batting points.

Opener Luke Bennett (67) looked comfortable in his first first XI appearance since May, and with Webb (73no) also taking the attack to the bowlers, Datchworth declared at 218-4 in 51 overs.

Chorleywood reached 40-0 in the first 10 overs but wickets started to fall regularly although Datchworth's lack of penetration meant another draw and another 19 points.

Steve Stroomer finished with 7-30 from 17 overs, with the other two wickets going to Matt Budd, as Datchworth tried everything to get the win.

# The seconds continued their slide down the table, and once again it was the batting that let them down.

Simon Little claimed 5-34 and the other wickets were picked up by the economical Dave Gibbs (3-23) and the wily Phil Nightingale (1-25).

Opener Lewis Tyler and number 10 Reece Pybus both top scored with 12 as they lost regular wickets and were bowled out for 56.

The thirds recorded their fourth win of the season with an improved all-round display.

They scratched their way to 115-9 from the allotted 47 overs against Waltham Cross Rosedale fourths, Andy Draper holding things together batting 30 overs for just 14 runs. A late flurry from Shad Kamali (26) boosted the score.

Captain Neil Saunders (4-34) and Draper (4-38) bowled long spells, before Danny Hattam (2-7) once again mopped up the tail.