St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1XI v Harpenden on Sun 22 Jun 2008 at 1.00pm
St Albans Cricket Club Won By 4 wickets
On a sunny but somewhat windswept Sunday afternoon at Clarence Park, the St. Albans team found themselves up against local rivals Harpenden in the second match of their Chess Valley campaign. Having won the toss Harpenden elected to bat on what looked like a good track.
With a special appearance from the clubs overseas player, Yasir Arafat, the St. Albans team felt optimistic about the prospect of the match. The Harpenden openers got off to a good start with some glorious hits down the ground from both players. However the bowlers remained positive and Arafat made the first breakthrough, Harpenden opener Winchester misjudging a short ball and top-edging to Goodwin at mid-wicket. With the St. Albans’ tails now firmly up they put the squeeze on the Harpenden batsmen and coupled with some tight bowling from Basir (1-28) and some frightening short balls from Jones (2-39) helped restrict the Harpenden batsmen. However the St. Albans team did suffer their fair share of bad luck with Ahmed and Goodwin leaving the field due to injury, and catches going down from Jimmy “I never drop catches mate” Goodwin (how he obtained the injury) and Sharp the Saints did well to restrict the final score to 224-9 off 45 overs. A special mention must go to James Rosson for taking 4-45 off 10 overs in his first match bowling so called off spin and to skipper Fogarty for taking 4 stumpings.
St. Albans started well with both Sharp and Howeson making runs at a good rate. However with some good jug avoidance from Howeson, eventually being stumped for a well made 49, and Sharp quickly following, this brought together the pairing of Yasir “my head is spinning” Arafat and Martin Jones who disposed of the Harpenden bowlers with some lusty blows into the tennis courts saw St. Albans closing in on their target rapidly. However with Jones being dismissed for 47 the St. Albans innings stuttered and they lost the wickets of Rosson and Fogarty in quick succession. Goodwin, returning from hospital, attempted to smash the Saints to victory before being caught. However Jamie Telkman came to the crease to steady the ship and together with some lusty blows from both Telkman and Arafat the pairing saw the Saints home with one over left. Victory made even sweeter when Harpenden bowler Winchester saw fit to kick a crater in the pitch in his frustration. Another victory for Saints sees them top the table with a 100% record.
Harpenden Batting
224 for 9
St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1XI Bowling
St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1XI Batting
228 for 6
Harpenden Bowling
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Umpire :
P Mardle
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Scorer :