Abridge (Essex) v St Albans Cricket Club 4XI on Sat 27 Jul 2002 at 2pm
St Albans Cricket Club Won St Albans Win by 37 runs
Despite David Haygate taking half the team and scorer around East London, having missed the M25 turn, the St Albans captain safely won the toss and elected to bat.
With Pat Sylvester and Jerry Fretter opening the batting and scoring 12 from the 1st over, they continued at over 5 runs an over until Pat Sylvester edged a ball to the replacement 'keeper with the score on 47. David Coombes entered the wicket and hit several good strokes. He did give a couple of chances which were not taken and proved decisive.
Jerry Fretter continued up to his average until he also found and edge to the 'keeper. Raj Metta soon followed as he was bowled by a ball which shot along the ground. This was the first sign of things to come.
Andy Walker and Simon Marriott soon followed as the St Albans score slowed. Tim Fretter hit a brisk 12, before he was bowled. he was followed by Guy Black and captain, Ade Hallchurch.
It was left to Radleigh Tate and Dave Haygate to make it to the last over when Ade Hallchurch was going to declare. However, Radleigh was run out taking a second run, as St Albans were bowled out for 169.
This didn't look enough at the time, but the ball continued to shoot along the ground, which caused Jerry Fretter behind the stumps to stand up to the wicket to every bowler.
This had an almost immediate effect as he took a smart catch off Tim Fretter, down the leg side.
Radliegh Tant bowled well without much luck and could easily have had a couple of wickets. Guy Black replaced Tim Fretter and swung the ball away from the right hand batsmen. He picked up three wickets as he hit the stumps on each occasion.
Simon Marriott replaced Radleigh Tant and took a wicket as the batsmen attempted to hit across the line.
As the game moved into the last 20 overs, the Essex side had the upper hand, but this was to change as Andy Walker removed the Abridge captain as he was one of two victims of Dave Coombes catches.
David Haygate came on to bowl and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket as the track got lower and lower. With Abridge now staring defeat in the face, the batsmen was run out by 3 yards, as Radleigh Tant easily found the 'keepers gloves, as they tried for a suicidal second run.
Enter Raj Metha who took only two balls to see off the final batsmen, as his fizzing, bouncing leg break only found Tim Fretter as cover. ( not really, an almost double bounce, wide of off stumps, was scooped to Tim Fretter, but no one will know any difference.)
St Albans won by 37 runs and looked in good shape for next weeks important League clash with Southgate Adelaide. A win will see the side in prime position for League winners for 2002 season.
St Albans Cricket Club 4XI Batting
169 for 10
Abridge (Essex) Bowling
Abridge (Essex) Batting
132 for 10
St Albans Cricket Club 4XI Bowling