A SECOND successive five-wicket haul from Martin Bailey enabled improving West Herts second XI to complete back-to-back league wins in Division Four, with an emphatic 104-run success over Ickleford on Saturday, June 7.

Following on from his 5-24 seven days earlier, Bailey performed even better, taking 5-21, as Ickleford were skittled out for 120 in reply to the Stags' 224-5.

After Daniel Worsley had been removed early, Faraaz Samadi (34) and Anthony Griffin (35) took the game to the Ickleford bowlers, adding 89 for the second wicket.

The visitors struck back with three wickets for four runs, but this brought Musfique Ahmed to the crease, and he more than steadied the ship with 56.

In reply, only Thurstance (46 not out) coped with Bailey's bowling, as he removed five of the top seven in an excellent spell.

Although slightly expensive, Ahmed (2-25) then completed a solid all-round performance as the Stags wrapped up the game inside 38 overs.

Clarendon also completed their second straight success following a hard-fought 17-run triumph over Holtwhites Trinibis.

Having won the toss, Clarendon chose to bat on a damp wicket following heavy overnight rain. This decision looked to have backfired when they were reduced to 13-2 following the dismissal of Sean Clarke and Dave Bunkle.

But the reliable Gary Wise (40) joined Tim Caldicott (32) in putting on 65 to steady the innings before Wise got a faint edge to the wicket-keeper.

Holtwhites' Watson (6-37) was bowling particularly well and wickets started to tumble regularly. But a flurry of late runs from Ian Grout (29) and Andy Grant (27) saw Clarendon to a respectable 156 on a drying pitch.

Holtwhites got off to a strong start, putting on 47, before Imran Razzaq was introduced into the attack. He struck immediately, and took a further two wickets to finish with 3-13 in five overs.

Having made the breakthrough, skipper Rory Howarth (3-43) opted to reintroduce himself to the attack, and Holtwhites soon tumbled to 139 all out.

Langleybury second XI picked up their first 30-point haul of the season with a scrappy 26-run victory over Sandridge.

Bury elected to bat on a wet and uncut track, but a familiar batting collapse would have had them questioning their decision as Sandridge reduced them to 35-5.

However, like previous weeks, a partnership well down the order came to their rescue as Sean Palmer (46 not out) and Jon Gunning added 86 for the seventh wicket to drag their team up to 129 all out.

While the total might have looked vulnerable, the wicket was not conducive to heavy scoring and paceman Josh Costello underlined the point as he steamed in to smash the Sandridge line-up to shreds. An explosive 19-over spell claimed seven wickets, conceding just 38 runs in the process, to all but guarantee Langleybury victory.

Alex Gunning cleaned up with the other three wickets, while debutant Stephen Finn, only 14, looked a useful prospect when he opened the bowling.