Baldock kept their promotion hopes alive by beating Datchworth in a low-scoring match at Avenue Park. Having won the toss, Datchworth elected to bat and soon lost Luke Bennett, bowled by Matt Ayre for four in a fiery opening spell. Chris Brown and Darren

Baldock kept their promotion hopes alive by beating Datchworth in a low-scoring match at Avenue Park.

Having won the toss, Datchworth elected to bat and soon lost Luke Bennett, bowled by Matt Ayre for four in a fiery opening spell.

Chris Brown and Darren Croucher then batted well together to bring up the fifty until Alistair Jones removed Brown for a hard-hit 37.

Tim Dean then bowled Croucher for 21 and Datchworth soon lost eight wickets for 49 runs.

Datchworth limped to 108 all out off 48 overs with Jones taking a rather flattering 8-40 from 18 overs.

Both Ayre (1-22) and Dean (1-18 from 17 overs) bowled well with little luck.

Baldock's response was 35-3 before skipper Rob Cant scored an important 22 before being bowled.

Then Julian Muir (30no) and Ranjit Rayat (28no) batted with great sense to take Baldock home by six wickets off 48.3 overs.

Baldock made ground on the top four and need to win again this Saturday when they travel to St Albans West Indians.

* Baldock seconds played Datchworth seconds and won by 42 runs.

Batting first, Baldock scored 140 all out with Nigel Gazely scoring 45 and Taylor 46no. Datchworth in reply were skittled for 98 with Phil Lucy taking six wickets.

The thirds were totally outplayed by Preston thirds and lost by eight wickets.

Baldock had a break from league cricket on Sunday and played Stevenage seconds at Graveley in a friendly.

Baldock were 39-3 but Rob Peacock (50no), Alistair Jones (48) and Luke Mongston (25) took the total up to 202-9.

Stevenage were all out for 96 with Daniel Loriot taking his first five-wicket haul (5-24 off nine overs) and Richard Lawes 3-16.

* There was a wonderful lunch and match as Datchworth hosted their annual President's Day for the Jimmy Little Memorial Trophy.

Darren Croucher's unbeaten 70 was key in helping the side to post a useful 167-5 in 40 overs on a damp wicket.

Brothers Merv (3-30) and Shad Kamali (3-20) were the main threat as the invitation side, featuring players from Knebworth Park, Datchworth, Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City, were bowled out for 100.

Dangerman Ed Tucker's aggressive 22 was ended by an outstanding left-handed catch on the boundary.