Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI v Chorleywood 2nd XI on Sat 21 Apr 2018 at 1pm
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 59 runs

Match report After a long, cold winter, a week full of sunshine and warm temperatures: April was upon us. And so was the new cricket season, as a St Albans Club XI faced a Chorleywood XI at Clarence Park, shaking off cobwebs in a pre-season friendly.

Home skipper Rajani was able to bat first after a leisurely preparation. He may have rued his choice as four wickets fell in next to no time (4/28), and the prospect of a beer game to extend the afternoon into something more substantial was discussed. After all, this was a practice match - everyone needed a fair go.

None of us had counted on what followed. Michael Martin and Moksudul Islam joined forces and helped St Albans find a way back into the match, some liberal bowling allowing the powerful Martin to take advantage.

Boundaries and energetic running saw milestones swiftly passed. The team ton, 50s for each, a hundred partnership, 200 up. The visitors were clearly nonplussed by the spirited batting that was finding the boundary with ease. It was Martin who approached a major individual milestone first, but alas the square leg umpire (J.Rosson, let it be noted) accepted a stumping appeal, to send Martin on his way for an excellent 95. In a partnership of 179, this was an innings that clearly deserved a century.

This left the spotlight on Moksud - could he go one better? With another swish to leg, the answer was a definitive yes, and the young batsman raised his arms aloft in delighted celebration. Finishing undefeated on 113, Moksy’s innings saw him quick to pounce on anything off line. A fine way to score a first hundred and set up the season ahead.

So, with a 40 over score of 233 on the board, the hosts held the advantage at the halfway mark.

It was O’Grady who set the bowlers on the way with an early wicket, but thereafter Chorleywood’s Tyler and Stothart were able to accumulate runs comfortably. In a match such as this pre-season affair it’s never easy to estimate the ability of the opposition - perhaps they were stacked with batsmen?

At this point, the skipper brought on Andy Saunders, who was quickly able to latch on to the perfect length with his left-armers. Consequently, batting got a little tougher and the required run rate began to climb. Saunders was able to nip out both set batsmen, while the very busy Moksud - who seemed to be a magnet to the ball throughout the day - chimed in with one of his own.

Shortly, Saints were down to nine men in the field, with two early departures necessary, but runs still proved hard to come by with some disciplined bowling. Further wickets to Kheriwala and Walker left Chorleywood out of the event, and in the end they finished 59 runs short. The pick of the bowlers was Saunders who ended a very solid eight over spell with figures of 3/28.

A good workout then to get the season underway, and a very fine day for Martin and particularly Moksud Islam with his wonderful ton. Let there be more to follow!

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
3w 1lb 
for 5 wickets
4
229		        
Naveed Ahmed ct Stohart b Tyler 3
Huzefa Kanchwala b Barnfather 0
Amit Rajani ct Harragin b Tyler 5
James Rosson b Bungard 12 2
Moksudul Islam Not Out  113 16
Michael Martin st Patel b Tyler 95 11 1
Mustansir Kheriwala Not Out  1
Glenn O'Grady  
Andrew Walker   2
Andy Saunders  
Ciarán Walsh  

Chorleywood 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Barnfather8.0139139.004.88
Tyler8.012739.003.38
Lindsay5.002900.005.80
Bungard4.0020120.005.00
Bryant4.002600.006.50
Harragan8.005800.007.25
Wood3.003300.0011.00

Chorleywood 2nd XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 10w 4b 3lb 
for 7 wickets
20
174 (40.0 overs)		     
Dunstone b O'Grady 6
Tyler ct Walker b Saunders 44
Stothart b Saunders 43
Bungard ct Walker b Islam 11
Harragin b Kheriwala 14
Patel Not Out  22
Tyler b Saunders 10
Barnfather b Walker 3
Bryant Not Out  1
Lindsay  
Wood  

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Hassan Salahin6.002900.004.83
Glenn O'Grady7.0023123.003.29
Andrew Walker7.0121121.003.00
Amit Rajani4.002300.005.75
Mustansir Kheriwala4.0024124.006.00
Andy Saunders8.002839.333.50
Moksudul Islam4.0019119.004.75

  • Umpire :
  • Scorer :
    12.15