St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2XI v Gardeners on Sun 24 Apr 2005 at 2pm
St Albans Cricket Club Won St Albans win by 6 runs
In a 45 overs aside game, Captain Gordon Murray lost the toss and was asked to bat. Simon Fretter, fresh from his previous day 50 soon lost fellow opener Rex Devadason for just 2, as he cut the ball onto his stumps. S Fretter was joined by Joe Grigg, and they made steady, if slow progress against some rather wide bowling, which escaped censure from the umpire. Simon Fretter was bowled for 15, with the score on 22 and 10 overs gone. Tim Jones, in his first game for the club was soon back in the pavilion for just 1. Colin Murphy and Joe Grigg accelerated the scoring, with Murphy hitting a big 6 into the hockey pitches. However, he fell soon after drinks, when his ‘tin-legs’ let him down, as he tried in vain for a third, and was run out by 1 metre. Jog Grigg followed soon after, when he danced too far down the wicket and was stumped, having made 49. Captain Murray was in full flow, despatching the ball to all parts, as he made a quick fire 30. Young Andy Rudlin hung around, and was joined by Tim Fretter, a late replacement for players who DID NOT TURN UP. However, having been given three lives, Andy Rudlin was bowled for 8. Tim Fretter was smashing the ball the all parts, including a massive straight 6, off the back foot. This particular shot was talked about all afternoon, by the opposition. Tim was joined by Jeremy Fretter, who stood on his bat (2no) and watched young Tim smash 41 from just 19 balls, to extend the score to 174-8 from 45 overs, being dismissed off the last ball, looking for one final maximum.
In reply, Tim Fretter and Nick James opened up, and kept the bowling tight. There was the odd bad ball which was despatched to the short boundary. Tim Fretter removed the opener for 10, when bowled through the gate. The other opener survived several close shouts fro LBW. Colin Murphy replaced Tim Fretter and managed to swing the ball both ways. He was rewarded in his second over, when he had the No.3 caught by Rex Devadason, at first slip (( Now you are back in your seat, I’ll carry on !!!). Joe Grigg replaced Nick James, but could find the consistency to slow the run rate, and he was replaced by young, Andy Rudlin. His leg spin was a little short and he was replaced after 3 overs. At drinks Gardeners were in ideal position, and favourites for a win. However, Captain Murray found Simon ‘The Slug’ Fretter hiding at deep cover and he was called into attack. He was his usual aggressive self, but managed to slow the run rate down. He was rewarded with three wickets, including two caught behind. Tim Fretter was called back into the attack, and the opener, having progressed to 57, seemed to edge the ball to the keeper, but was given Not Out, as there was no deviation of the ball. However, brother Simon soon accounted for the opener, as he bowled him through the gate. The pressure was now in, and Captain Murray in his attempt to take wickets was running out of bowlers. With the loss of the opener for 76, Gardeners needed 22 from 4 overs. Murphy had taken a wicket with a plumb LBW, as the batsmen didn’t play a shot to a ball hitting the middle part of middle stump. Murray recalled Grigg, who took the final two wicket in two balls in the 44th over, as both batsmen were trapped plumb in front. St Albans had dragged a good, hard fought win back from the jaws of defeat.
St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2XI Batting
174 for 8
Gardeners Bowling
Gardeners Batting
168 for 10
St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2XI Bowling
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Umpire :
B Atkinson
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Scorer :
Mrs C Fretter