Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI v Hertford IV on Sat 27 May 2017 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 156 runs

Match report The thirds returned to Verulam School Playing Fields for round 4 on the fixture list, seeking an improved performance.

After a warm week, the wicket looked suitably dry, so it was a surprise when undefeated Hertford chose to bowl when they won the toss on a breezy afternoon.

Openers Watkins and Rudlin set about their task well, against some sensible bowling. With the wicket slow and low, and the outfield grass long, runs were hard to come by, but Watkins found a way to lift the rate with his 28 - before charging down the wicket to be stumped by a long way. Shah and Rudlin then joined forces, Shah being merciless on anything loose, dispatching one short ball high into the adjacent field. Nearing a century stand, Rudlin (43) and Shah (56), were out in successive overs.

A crucial phase of the game followed, for Saints' recent history has been littered with middle order collapses and under-par totals. But this time Ralfe steadied the ship, and Wyldes' 36, struck at a good rate, enabled the 3s to push past a 200 run total in the 50th over. It felt like a challenging total for an opposition that looked a little under manned. For the first time this season, we had "runs on the board".

After tea served under the gazebo, a pleasant escape from the dreary indoors of the changing rooms, the bowlers took their turn. Milnes and Button found good lines, and it was Button - asked to work up hill into the wind - who broke through first, twice knocking the stumps over to put himself on a hattrick. Shah then took a fine slip catch off Milnes, a rarity in Division 8A. Meanwhile, anything loose was inevitably cut off in the covers by the irrepressible Watkins, setting a high standard in the field. The asking rate crept steadily higher, and Hertford looked well out of the game within the first 20 overs. Walker was able to chime in with 4/9, and Murphy took the last two, to end the visitors' misery: all out for just 47 in 27.5 overs.

Take that 156 run thrashing, together with the off-field periphery - teas delivered, showers working, Barry covering as umpire and everyone pitching in with the chores - and there was little more that a captain could ask for. Great stuff, everyone!

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
9w 4b 4lb 
for 8 wickets
17
203		        
Dominic Watkins st - b Underdown 28 4
Andy Rudlin b Benham 43 5
Mohammed Shah ct - b Benham 56 6 2 1
Kevin Ralfe b Benham 12 1
Adam Murphy lbw b Morgan 0 1
Tom Wyldes lbw b Orchard 36 4 1
Moksudul Islam lbw b Orchard 0
Marcus Cunnington Run out  4
Andrew Walker Not Out  5 1
Andy Milnes Not Out  7 1
Joe Button   1

Hertford IV Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Reddy10.012400.002.40
Orchard10.0344222.004.40
Underdown10.0130130.003.00
Morgan8.0134134.004.25
McIntyre2.002600.0013.00
Benham10.0037312.333.70

Hertford IV Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1w 4b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
7
47 (27.5 overs)		     
Horton b Button 5
Bartlam ct Murphy b Walker 9
Camp b Button 0
Hillary ct Shah b Milne 0
Reddy ct Ralfe b Walker 3
Dawson ct Button b Walker 9
Underdown ct Wyldes b Watkins 0
Morgan b Murphy 8
McIntyre b Walker 0
Benham Not Out  6
Orchard b Murphy 0

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Andy Milnes7.0311111.001.57
Joe Button6.02723.501.17
Andrew Walker6.03942.251.50
Dominic Watkins5.02616.001.20
Moksudul Islam2.00500.002.50
Adam Murphy1.51020.000.00
 
Photos and video of St Albans Cricket Club 3XI v Hertford IV on Sat 27 May 2017 at 13:00

27/05/2017 - St Albans III v Hertford IV - Hertford scorecard

27/05/2017 - St Albans III v Hertford IV - St Albans scorecard