Baldock Town let another chance of victory slip through their fingers as they narrowly lost to Chorleywood s second team. They once again failed to capitalise on a fine bowling and fielding display due to another batting collapse to lose by eight runs in

Baldock Town let another chance of victory slip through their fingers as they narrowly lost to Chorleywood's second team.

They once again failed to capitalise on a fine bowling and fielding display due to another batting collapse to lose by eight runs in the Saracens Herts League Division Five.

Skipper Rob Cant won the toss and put Chorleywood in.

Giles Naylor removed both openers and Alistair Jones had the number three caught at mid wicket to leave the visitors 49-3.

Chorleywood went from 76-3 to 100-9 before closing on 114 all out off 37.3 overs. Tim Dean took 5-21 from nine excellent overs, Jones 3-62 from 18.3 overs and Naylor 2-22 off nine overs.

Baldock's reply reached 45 without loss and despite the dismissal of Lee Pitts, the home team were well placed to win with in-form talisman James Peacock going well.

But his dismissal for 43 sparked a woeful collapse that left Baldock in disarray at 83-7. The tail once again tried to get to the winning post but again could not quite manage it as they reached 106 all out off 32 overs.

The seconds managed to secure another win at Elstree 2nds.

Elstree posted 134 all out with Chris Lewis' 3-37 in 16 overs well supported by Mark Lewis (3-24), Phil Lucy (2-26) and Pete Tily (2-17).

Richie Waters hit three sixes on his way to a rapid half-century and finished unbeaten on 86 as Baldock won by eight wickets with 21 overs to spare.

Datchworth were thrashed by Cockfosters in Division Three after losing the toss and being asked to bat first.

The villagers were 19-4 before their captain Steve Stroomer (53) and Alex Langford (22) rebuilt the innings.

Langford ran himself out with the score on 87 and after Stroomer was caught in the deep, it was left to Steve Nash (14) and Chris Gordon (22no) to push for runs, finishing 157-8 from 52 overs.

Cockfosters skipper Matt Fisher was outstanding with the bat as the visitors reached the total with ease.

He scored 101 from 76 balls - his century coming in just 68 balls - in an opening stand of 135 in just 23 overs.

Fisher dispatched the bowlers for 14 fours and three sixes as the game slipped away. With Stroomer behind the stumps, only Nash (1-20 in nine overs) looked a threat as Cockfosters cruised home in 29.1 overs.

The rain thwarted Ickleford when they were in a good position against Cheshunt.

They had dismissed Cheshunt for just 149 as Steve Munnery took 4-52 from 14 overs and Tom Reilly 3-15 from 10.2 overs to continue his good form.

Ickleford were 35-0 when heavy rain caused the game to be abandoned.

The seconds were involved in an exciting finish with Hatfield Hyde 2nds.

Hyde were bowled out for 145 with Ickleford's bowling shared by two veterans and three 14-year-olds.

Trevor Izzard took 3-41 and his brother Roy 2-22. The three colts did themselves proud with Joe Lockyer (1-26), Gobind Rayat (2-19) and John Williams (1-34) providing great hope for the future.

Ickleford were in trouble at 66-5 in reply but an excellent partnership between Lockyer (39) and Ollie Davies (29) saw Ickleford end just four runs short of victory on 142-8.