BALDOCK played host to Luton Town & Indians II on Saturday but, despite a vastly improved performance, still ran out losers by six wickets. Having lost the toss and been asked to bat Baldock found themselves 23-2 off 10 overs and staring down the barrel

BALDOCK played host to Luton Town &

Indians II on Saturday but, despite a vastly improved performance, still ran out losers by six wickets.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bat Baldock found themselves 23-2 off 10 overs and staring down the barrel of another low total.

However, against a very steady and accurate attack, Graham Letford and Robert Peacock really knuckled down and batted with sense and purpose to get Baldock to a competitive total of 176-5 off 53 overs.

Letford was his usual calm self and scored 63 runs while Peacock junior made a patient 56 in Baldock's highest total for four weeks.

The Luton reply was stuttering as the Baldock bowlers and fielders showed real commitment in their search for that elusive win.

Alistair Jones took two early wickets and Tim Dean chipped in with one to leave Luton in trouble at 46-3 off18 overs.

Despite this Luton began to get back into the game as M Dalvi in particular started to find the boundary with a fine array of shots.

He almost single-handedly got his team into the driving seat and, despite some tight bowling and good fielding, Luton IIs were edging towards victory.

With a tight finish looming Baldock went in search of wickets and an unlikely victory, but runs flowed quickly and Dalvi rushed Luton to a six-wicket victory, reaching 180-4 off 41.5 overs.

Dalvi finished unbeaten on 91, while Jones took 2-59 off 17 overs and Tim Dean 2-45 off 15.

The search for victory continues at Old Owens on Saturday.

Baldock's second team also fell to defeat against Luton Town & Indians, and the

Bedfordshire club's third side won by three wickets.

Visitors Baldock were asked to bat on what looked like a very bowler-friendly wicket.

This was all too apparent as the Baldock batsmen struggled to adapt to the very uneven bounce, with Andy Diplock (22) and Pete Tily (20) the only batsmen to get into double figures.

Baldock were dismissed for 120 in 45 overs, Manjit taking 5-23.

Luton performed little better on their own track and were soon in trouble against the Baldock bowling, skipper Pete Lucy taking 6-52 in 22 overs.

Two good partnerships between Manjit (24 not out), Hitesh (24) and skipper Virem (16 not out) saw Luton home to their target of 120 in 45 overs.

Baldock's Sunday side collected their fourth win of the season as they beat Therfield by five wickets. Therfield batted first but Baldock's bowlers kept the runs down and wickets fell regularly. At 72-5 Robert Peacock, who normally does not bowl, took a hat-trick and ended with figures of 4-5 from three overs.

Therfield were dismissed for 81 in 30.3 overs, with Graham Letford also taking 3-17.

Baldock got to 82-5 from 26.3 overs with Nick Blenkin top scoring with 18 to complete a satisfying five-wicket win.