BALDOCK Town made it two wins in a row as they gave St Albans West Indians a rare thrashing at Avenue Park on Saturday. On a somewhat under-prepared wicket, Baldock were asked to bat in gloomy conditions. Openers James Peacock and Guy Wiggin got off to a

BALDOCK Town made it two wins in a row as they gave St Albans West Indians a rare thrashing at Avenue Park on Saturday.

On a somewhat under-prepared wicket, Baldock were asked to bat in gloomy conditions. Openers James Peacock and Guy Wiggin got off to a solid start, adding 39 for the first wicket.

However, the hosts were taken apart for the rest of the innings.

Peacock batted with his familiar fluency on a tricky pitch and he and Graham Letford, who again impressed with his calm temperament, added 123 in good time.

When Letford was run out for 41 the runs came at a great rate as the fielding got worse.

Peacock went on to a superb 106 - his third ton of the season - and then Giles Naylor battered 52 not out, including three huge sixes, to take Baldock to 257-4 off 53 overs.

The St Albans reply was short and very sweet as Baldock got among the wickets.

Alistair Jones and Logan Newman cut a swathe through the top order with some fine bowling, aided by some good catching especially from Robert Peacock, who snapped up four.

When Jones took his fourth wicket the score was 59-7 and the result not in doubt. Tim Dean and Peacock wrapped up the innings, taking two wickets each to leave St Albans all out for 77 in 25.2 overs.

Henny, the one batsman to impress, was out for 23 to a breathtaking slip catch by Kal Rayat.

Alistair Jones took 4-20 off 10 overs and Logan Newman 2-26 off seven overs.

This latest upturn in Baldock's fortunes leaves them out of immediate trouble and heading for safety.

They play Holtwhites on Saturday in a bid to secure Division Five status next year.

Baldock II continued their push for promotion with an excellent two-wicket victory over Knebworth Park V.

Baldock elected to bowl first and had Knebworth in trouble at 89-7 off 21 overs with Phil Lucy doing all the damage in a great opening spell.

However, in a remarkable turnaround, Knebworth managed an impressive 236 all out off 38 overs thanks to a dashing century from skipper Mark Folwell.

He scored 117 with 17 fours and four sixes and gave Knebworth a total to defend. Skipper Phil Lucy took 5-80 from 15 overs and Tily 2-65 from 11.

Baldock, with 60 overs to chase, set about the target with steady batting along the way from Simon Goodlad (40) and Glen Orsman (37).

With Baldock at 160-8 the game was looking in the balance but a great ninth-wicket stand of 81 between Salmon (32 not out) and Lucy (33 not out) took Baldock to a superb two-wicket win.