Scorecard

Flitwick II v St Albans Cricket Club 3XI on Sat 21 Jul 2007 at 1.30pm
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 4 wickets

Match report On the back of a series of solid results Saints travelled to Flitwick with a strong side knowing that only a victory against their fellow promotion hopefuls would give them any hope of end of season glory.

After winning the toss Saints took to the field in optimistic mood. Flitwick ground staff had worked wonders to prepare a ground that the previous evening had stood under 10 cm of water and even though the skips had agreed to give both sides every chance of victory one look around the heavens suggested the only likely winner was the rain.

Flitwick’s openers started brightly despatching anything a fraction long or wide to the shortened boundaries. Despite Kirwan and Basir best efforts, the latter on his 3’s debut, Flitwick amassed 68 off the first 12 overs without loss and a big score looked probable. However 24 overs of tight bowling by Fleming (0-34) and Ellins (2-29) combined with excellent fielding and keeping strangled Flitwick leaving them in no mans land at 130 for 2 with just 16 overs remaining.

However the game changed decisively with the arrival of Millicheap and Black into the attack. Bowling with skill and guile the combination of turn, lift and drift was simply too tempting and too well crafted for Flitwick’s middle and lower order. 8 wickets fell for just 18 runs in a little over 11 overs to leave Saints needing just 147 for victory in 53 overs. This was a superb display of competitive and skilful counterattacking cricket and a credit to the standards of the club and division 7.

During the break for tea the weather flexed its muscles and 6 overs were lost. However rather than dampen the spirits the inclement weather served only to raise the competitive spirit between the teams and create a sense of urgency in the Saints top order.

Galloway and Mukherjee opened for Saints and set the tone of the chase. Galloway looked in imperious form first swatting a 6 over square leg with a look of complete disdain and then scything a flat 6 over point’s head. After 5 overs Saints had posted 51 and Flitwick already looked a beaten side. However the loss of 4 wickets for 7 runs (Galloway 30, Mukherjee 15, Goodfellow 0, Rowlands 0) swung the game back again toward Flitwick.

Black and Wilder dug in, held their nerve and slowly but surely pulled the game back into Saint’s favour. A stand of 43 was eventually broken with the loss of Wilder (24) bringing Fleming to the crease. By now the sky was black and the light bordering on the farcical but desperate for victory both sides pushed on. Stepping up through the gears and sensitive to the imminent deluge Fleming clubbed 23 off two overs before the heavens opened.

50 minutes later and after much sponging and gnashing of competitive teeth Saints willingly, and Flitwick sportingly, retook the field. Needing 24 for victory and sensitive to the inevitable onslaught of the incoming monsoon Fleming and Black went after the attack as if their lives depended on it. 12 balls later Saints left the field victorious. Fleming (39 not out) and Black (33) had batted superbly to earn all 30 points in under 26 overs.

On paper Saints had given Flitwick a bit of a mauling but although the scorecard suggested a one sided affair this match was anything but. A great game, a great win leaving both sides in the chasing pack and Saints on a bit of a roll.

Flitwick II Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
9w 12b 6lb 
for 10 wickets
27
146 (47.2 overs)		     
Butler ct  - b Ellins 36
Summerfield ct  Goodfellow b Millicheap 40
Thurstance ct  Wilder b Ellins 3
Tate ct  Kirwan b Millicheap 24
Nicklin lbw  b Millicheap 5
matthews ct  & b Black 1
Proctor ct  Kirwan b Black 2
Wigfield st  Wilder b Millicheap 8
McAuliff Not Out  0
Peters b  Millicheap 0
Sanghera ct  Basir b Millicheap 0

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Nick Kirwan7.011700.002.43
Hamaad Basir6.002700.004.50
Chris Ellins11.0229214.502.64
Jamie Fleming12.043400.002.83
Sam Millicheap6.231863.002.84
Guy Black5.03422.000.80

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 2w 3b 2lb 
for 6 wickets
9
150		        
Simon Galloway b  Sanghera 30
Jai Mukherjee ct  Matthews b McCauliffe 14
Guy Black ct  Wigfield b Thurstance 33 1
Michael Goodfellow lbw  b McCauliffe 0 1
Sam Rowlands b  Sanghera 0 1
Stuart Wilder b  Thurstance 24 1 1
Jamie Fleming Not Out  39
Nick Kirwan Not Out  1 2
Chris Ellins  
Sam Millicheap  
Hamaad Basir   1

Flitwick II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sanghera6.0128214.004.67
Peters2.002400.0012.00
McAuliff2.21723.503.00
Wigfield2.402100.007.88
Thurstance7.0131215.504.43
Matthews6.103400.005.51