Buntingford display their winning ways

Thorley 2nd XI v Buntingford 2nd XI

BUNTINGFORD got back to winning ways at the weekend in a low scoring but keenly contested victory away to Thorley.

Put into bat first, Buntingford quickly lost Poulton after he was dismissed by Thorley's Mills.

Instead of crumbling Baker and McNamara led the recovery and moved the score to 49 without further loss.

Then thanks to some average batting and great bowling from Sydes (10-5-13-2) Buntingford collapsed to 91-7. Glasscock chipped in with four boundaries before they finished on 120 all out.

In reply, Thorley who needed less than three-an-over found the Buntingford bowlers hard to play off.

In 10 overs Atkins produced three maidens and two wickets, while Glasscock and Baker took 10-5-18-2 and 10-6-19-3 respectively.

Thorley's middle-order all chipped in with runs until they lost three quick wickets to go from 75-5 to 89-8, and finished on 108.

- Buntingfords 1st XI match against Newport on Saturday was abandoned due to rain.

Batting first, Newport found it tough to score runs against some tight accurate bowling.

After 24 of their allotted 45 overs they had reached 54-2 before rain intervened, much to the frustration of the Buntingford players.

Buntingford's Richard Pearce bowled 10-3-26-2, while Francis Dixon bowled 5-1-13-0 and Chambers Jnr finished with 7-3-14-0.

Baldock 1st XI v Chorleywood

BALDOCK failed to capitalise on a fine bowling and fielding display, collapsing to an eight run loss against Chorleywood II's on Saturday.

The defeat was disappointing as Baldock's batting collapsed in the face of nothing more than average bowling, lack of application and lazy shot selection.

On winning the toss, captain Rob Cant put Chorleywood in to bat and some steady bowling from their openers kept the run-rate under control.

Then Giles Naylor struck twice to remove them and Alistair Jones followed with a fine catch at mid-wicket to leave the visitors 49-3.

Tim Dean then joined the attack and bowled superbly straight from the off and took two quick wickets.

Chorleywood II's went from 76-3 to 100-9 before a spirited burst from Dunning (28) took the final score to 114 all out off 37.3 overs.

The Baldock reply was excellent as they reached 45 without loss and soon found themselves in an excellent position thanks to James Peacock.

However, his dismissal for 43 quickly sparked a woeful collapse leaving Baldock 83-7 in no time at all and 106 all out off 32 overs.

Elstree II v Baldock Town II.

BALDOCK survived the sodden ground and howling winds at Elstree to secure another impressive victory in the Herts League.

Elstree put on a steady first-wicket stand of 42, which considering the conditions looked to be an ominous start to the match for Baldock.

However, Chris Lewis managed to secure a breakthrough and enabled the Baldock bowlers to get back on top.

Lewis finished with an excellent 3 for 37 from 16 overs and was supported by Mark Lewis 3 for 24, Phil Lucy 2 for 26 and Pete Tily 2 for 17.

Elstree's score still looked difficult, especially as the weather continued to dampen spirits. However, Richie Waters soon lifted Baldock by hitting three impressive sixes.

Waters soon moved rapidly to his half-century as Duncan Lewis hit 21, helping Baldock to victory with 21 overs to spare.

Waters finished on 86 not out and Baldock left the Elstree "tundra" knowing that their promotion bid is still on track.

Thriplow v Yelling

THRIPLOW maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a comprehensive victory over the previously unbeaten Yelling.

Thriplow captain Chris Neild lost the toss and expected his side to bat, but to his disbelief Yelling's Lee Johnson decided that it would be his team that would step up to the crease.

Instead of sending in his openers, Neild sent on Nigel and Andy Morris, who bowled well with wickets soon falling.

Dickon Turner took a stupendous diving one-hand catch at slip to see off Yelling man of the moment AA Johnson. Then their captain was out for 14 from an Andy Morris ball.

Yelling tumbled to 56 all out in 32 overs, with Thriplow's bowling figures making an excellent read.

Nigel Morris's took 2-27 off 10, his brother Andy returned figures of 10-6-6-4 and Turner, 6.4-2-4-4.

With clouds threatening, Thriplow promoted hitters Paul Staley and William Russell to move things along, with the latter hitting every corner taking 23 off one over.

Russell eventually launched a ball into the trees to take Thriplow home by nine wickets. Russell finished on 42 not out, including three sixes and four fours as their target of 57 was reached in 5.1 overs.