Datchworth kickstarted their season with a five-wicket home win against Bayford and Hertford in Saracens Herts League Division Five. The visitors opted to bat first on a wicket that remained firm despite the showers. Left-arm seamer Matt Budd sparked a co

Datchworth kickstarted their season with a five-wicket home win against Bayford and Hertford in Saracens Herts League Division Five.

The visitors opted to bat first on a wicket that remained firm despite the showers.

Left-arm seamer Matt Budd sparked a collapse as the innings slumped to 136-7.

Bayford and Hertford were all out for a respectable 171 and Budd was rewarded for his fine spell with figures of 5-27 from 14 overs.

Datchworth's innings appeared in tatters at 4-3 after six overs. But a determined knock from Nick Webb and a more positive approach from Steve Stroomer recovered the situation before Stroomer was bowled for 44 with the score on 72.

Webb was eventually joined by Steve Groves who took the game to Bayford with a run-a-ball half-century and with Webb also accelerating, they saw Datchworth home with five overs to spare.

Their 87-run partnership came in just 16 overs with Webb unbeaten on 61 and Groves 56.

Opener Stuart Warrington battled for 55no as the seconds drew with Bayford and Hertford.

The thirds beat their Baldock counterparts as Dave Edwards top scored with 44 as the home side posted 121 in the first match on their new pitch.

Captain Neil Saunders took 5-12 from 13 overs as they rolled Baldock over for 31, while Edwards also took 3-14 from 12 overs.

Baldock drew at home to Chorleywood seconds in a match they probably should have won.

Fielded first in gloomy and damp conditions, Baldock reduced Chorleywood to 90-3 and 157-4 before finally to 159-9 off 53 overs.

The excellent Tim Dean took three of the last wickets to end with 4-39 in 18 overs in a fine display of left-arm spin bowling.

Baldock lost three fairly early wickets as Chorleywood opened with two slow but accurate bowlers.

Matt Ayre and Tom Dupuy then counter attacked to take the score to 75 and when Dupuy went for 24, Ayre continued to turn the tide with a cracking 53.

Chorleywood pounced to leave Baldock 110-6 and eventually Alastair Jones and Logan Newman batted out for the draw at 143-9 off 47 overs.

The seconds had a much improved performance at Luton Town and Indians thirds.

Baldock batted first and got 178-9 from 53 overs. Andy Diplock got a fine 46, Barry Gazely 36 and Abu Monsur cracked a run-a-ball fifty.

In reply, Luton reached 160-8 as they played out for the draw. Captain Phil Lucy took another five-wicket haul as he led by example once more.

The thirds had a sound beating from Datchworth thirds despite restricting them to 129-9.

Luke Mongston again impressed with one wicket, two catches and a run out. The Baldock response was poor as they were skittled for 31 in 27 overs.