Redbourn obliterated Baldock with a relentless five-pronged bowling attack that surrendered just 65 runs in 31.3 overs.

Baldock skipper Julian Muir inserted Redbourn and his decision backfired as openers Gary Sandford (21) and Paul Smith put on 43 for the first wicket.

The second-wicket pairing of Smith (71) and Dan Roe (63) proved even more fruitful, pushing the score 161. The partnership was broken when Smith was caught by Gurdeep Jandu off Alistair Jones and the innings quickly unravelled.

Roe followed Smith back to the pavilion with the score still on 161 and the rest of the order contributed just 14 runs as Redbourn set a total of 181-8 off 51 innings.

With the pitch drying out and favouring the batsmen, skipper Ben Roe unleashed his bowling attack and it gave instantaneous results as Alex Salter removed Sanjay Chandarana for nought.

Tom Dupuy (18) and Gary O’Brien (24) steered Baldock away from the danger but the former fell with the score on 25. O’Brien’s next two partners, Dan Plumb (5) and Gurdeep Jandu (11), failed to hang around and when he was removed, leaving the score 59-5, the collapse was spectacular.

The next five wickets fell for six runs as Baldock crumbled to 65 all out.

Jon Fleming, Salter, Tom Whyte, Adam Pritchard and Dan Darvell all took two wickets each.