Scorecard

Watford Town I v St Albans Cricket Club 1XI on Sat 23 Jun 2018 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Lost by 79 runs

Match report Firstly a couple of thanks to Sara Kendal, and Gordon Murray who very kindly stepped up to take on scoring duties this week in the absence of our normal scorers. This saved us a 5 point penalty for not providing a scorer, and was very much appreciated.

Arriving at Watford Town to a very dry white wicket it was immediately clear the toss was an important one to win. Enlisting the help of his players in this critical decision, skipper Howeson called tails as the majority verdict, to see the coin fall with heads to the sky. It was no surprise that the opposition skipper decided to bat first.

With Jacob Winfield “stuck in traffic” the 1XI found themselves going into the field with 10 men, for the second week in a row, but having had a much better pre match preparation feeling positive. Simon White and Dan Rosson opened the bowling, once again St Albans found themselves up against it early with the opposition 30-0 off 3, then 56-0 off 6, St Albans looked to be facing a long afternoon.

In truth both openers came to the crease with a clear intent to swing from ball one, and got a little lucky, they say fortune favours the brave, it appeared to in this instance. With Winfield arriving seemingly unaffected by the previous evenings end of school celebrations, and White finding his rhythm the flow of runs was reduced, and wickets started to fall. White finishing with figures of 3-45 from his 10, and Winfield’s 1-59 from his 10, affected by some late hitting, having taken 1-31 from his first 7.

The middle overs were controlled by Mark Telkman and Uttam Vijender, both bowling with good control pon a pitch that was becoming increasingly difficult to score quickly on. Watford Town’s Kent II’s player Kashif Ali scoring 66 in the middle order, but living a charmed life throughout as Telkman in particular caused him to play at least 5 false shots that looped tantalisingly close to fielders. Telkman ultimately going unrewarded but possibly the pick of the bowling, with his 10 overs for 41, whilst Vijender claimed the dangerous Ali with a searing Yorker, finishing with 1-47. Rosson also returning to bowl an effective second spell. Good attacking intent in the field helped to ensure two run outs, but also a few mis-fields that helped to Watford Town to finish on 261-9 from their 50 overs.

With the groundsman available, the luxury of asking for the groundsman to roll the pitch at halfway was available, it wasn’t difficult to decide that this dry surface needed as little done to it as possible. Opening the innings White and Coulman, found an opening attack with some pace from one end, and Coulman particularly coming up against some aggressive new ball bowling. Coulman the first to succumb for 10 leaving St Albans on 28-1 after 10 overs. Stuart Murray the next man in, hit a couple of sweetly timed boundaries before falling to the off spinner Sajjad.

From here on in it was a story of spin on the ball, with off spin, and two leg spinners causing problems on the turning pitch. It became difficult to score runs, with Chanda, and Armitage falling in quick succession, as they attempted to keep up with the rate. A partnership of 46 between Howeson and White restored some balance to the innings before White fell in the 36th over for a well made 67.

A flurry of wickets followed with Winfield going first ball, and Telkman and Kendal not lasting much longer. At 138-8 in the 40th over with runs difficult to come by, the game as a contest was up for St Albans. Howeson and Vijender put on a partnership of 45 for the 9th wicket before Vijender fell, and Howeson was last man out for 32 shortly after.

A disappointing day but some positives to take from it, ultimately this was one of those days where so much depends on the toss, a dry pitch such as this seldom gets easier to bat on. St Albans really missed their spin duo of Capaldi and Foster. Next week skipper Capaldi returns hopefully able to utilise, not just his off spin skills, but his 5 and 0 tossing record, to take advantage of what could well be a dry pitch at Clarence Park as we welcome Totteridge and Millhillians.

Watford Town I Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
26w 4b 1lb 
for 9 wickets
31
261 (50.0 overs)		     
S. Ali ct  Rosson b Winfield 54
A. Mitru b  White 27
M. Ali ct  Rosson b White 4
N. Ahmed lbw  White 0
K. Ali b  Vijender 66
R. Panchal ct  Winfield b Rosson 11
A. Savad Not Out  49
I. Ahmed Run out  6
A. Sajad Run out  8
A. Munir ct  Armitage b Rosson 3
G. Riaz Not Out  10

St Albans Cricket Club 1XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Daniel Rosson10.0164232.006.40
Simon White10.0145315.004.50
Jacob Winfield10.0159159.005.90
Mark Telkman10.024100.004.10
Uttam Vijender10.0147147.004.70

St Albans Cricket Club 1XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 9w 2b 12lb 
for 10 wickets
24
181		        
Oliver Coulman b  Panchal 10 1
Simon White b  K.Ali 67 6 1
Stuart Murray lbw  Ah Sajjad 10 2
Sandipan Chanda ct  Panchal b K.Ali 11 1
Jonny Armitage ct  Panchal b As Sajjad 6 1
Matt Howeson ct  K.Ali b Ah Sajjad 32 2
Jacob Winfield ct  As Sajjad b K.Ali 0
Mark Telkman ct  M Ali b As Sajjad 0
Harry Kendal ct  K.Ali b A Ahmed 3
Uttam Vijender ct  & Bowled K.Ali 19 3
Daniel Rosson Not Out  0

Watford Town I Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
R.Panchal6.0121121.003.50
A. Munir6.021000.001.67
Ah Sajjad7.211326.501.77
A Ahmed10.0046146.004.60
K.Ali10.023849.503.80
Aj Sajjad10.0140220.004.00

  • Umpire :
    panel
  • Scorer :
    The mountain?