Scorecard

Harpenden Dolphins v St Albans Cricket Club 3XI on Sat 31 Aug 2019 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 55 runs

Match report With four wins in a row, and a strong XI named for the trip to Harpenden, the IIIs took some confidence to their encounter against top of the table Harpenden Dolphins.

Having somehow negotiated the challenges of car parking at Rothampsted, and found the pitch, it was clear that the wicket would offer something for the bowlers. The skipper won the toss and chose to bat first.

That decision swiftly looked unwise as Saints collapsed to 18/4 in the 12th over, as a top order billowing with talent found the wicket too great a challenge - opening bowler Roche with 4/3 at this stage. Here was an opportunity for those further down the order to shine. Knill-Jones looked composed, watching intently and playing the ball late as the pitch demanded. Mulvaney seemed to be playing on a different wicket entirely as he picked up the length early, enabling him to pounce on anything loose. With the change bowlers introduced life got a little easier, and a partnership built steadily with the score reaching 99 before Knill-Jones was dismissed for a well made 41.

Saints were definitely back in the game, the goal of 150 looking achievable. Mulvaney wasn't yet done either, and he reached his half century with another boundary. Unfortunately an attempt at a third run brought his demise, for 63, a very mature innings begun in difficult circumstances. With a few cameos, the score was lifted to 147 before the final wickets fell in the last over.

This looked to be a competitive total on a wicket that the home side acknowledged was not to up to scratch, and just it's second outing. The total looked even better when Smith, charging in from the West, extracted bounce with his first delivery, clipping the glove of opener Rayner on its way through to keeper Knill-Jones - the perfect start for Saints. Smith continued on his way, continually threatening the batsmen with movement in the air and off the seam, castling numbers 3 and 4, before he was given a spell with the terrific figures of 7/4/6/3. Dolphins' run rate was kept well in check as Mulvaney took up occupation at the Harpenden end of the ground, now showing his skill with the ball. The 18th over, bowled by Mulvaney, began with a wicket brought about by accurate bowling, and was then followed immediately with a six over long on as Godfrey-Evans introduced himself with a flurry. The batsman's intent continued as he added a further six runs before Mulvaney (2/28) outsmarted him with a quicker ball that shattered the stumps and broke a bail; 12 runs in the over, bracketed by two vital wickets.

With the total at 40/5, Saints were certainly in charge. Smith had been replaced by Vijender, who twice lost his way back to his bowling mark, as if in unfamiliar territory - "what am I supposed to be doing here?" he seemed to be asking himself. However, he recovered his poise to bowl beautifully, pitching full at times, and beating the outside edge on numerous occasions to finish with the solid figures of 2/16. Dolphins' skipper, Lacey, seemed their last avenue to victory - the possibility always lurking with a relatively low total on the board - until it was Murphy who nabbed him caught and bowled. That man then completed victory with a second wicket as Saints ran out comfortable winners by dismissing the hosts for just 92.

This was a terrific win against top ranking opposition, a fifth victory in a row. The IIIs will hope to extend that run as they return home for the season's final League fixture. For now, let's acknowledge this fixture's man of the match, Josh Mulvaney.

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2w 4b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
7
147		        
Zach West ct - b Roche 5
Moksudul Islam ct - b Roche 0
Ashish Dean b Roche 4 1
Harry Knill-Jones b Rayner 41 5 1
Dominic Watkins ct & b Roche 0 2
Joshua Mulvaney Run out  62 9
Uttam Vijender ct - b Lacey 14 2
Adam Murphy ct & b Giovanni 6 1 1
Andrew Walker ct - b Lacey 13 1 1
Charles Smith ct - b Lacey 1
Jamie Telkman Not Out  0 1

Harpenden Dolphins Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
O.Lacey8.2320210.002.40
A.Roche9.051443.501.56
T.Roche5.001400.002.80
Giovanni9.0029129.003.22
Downs5.002100.004.20
Rayner6.0034134.005.67
Foord1.001200.0012.00

Harpenden Dolphins Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 2w 4b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
10
92 (37.4 overs)		     
Rayner ct Knill-Jones b Smith 0
Foord ct Telkman b Mulvaney 19 2
A.Roche b Smith 0
Geake b Smith 4
Lacey ct & b Murphy 22 3
Godfrey-Evans b Mulvaney 12 1 1
Ivens b Vijender 8
Giovanni ct Watkins b Vijender 5 1
T.Roche ct Watkins b Walker 5 1
Downes b Murphy 8 1
Nolan Not Out  0

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Charles Smith7.04632.000.86
Jamie Telkman5.011200.002.40
Joshua Mulvaney9.0128214.003.11
Uttam Vijender9.041628.001.78
Adam Murphy4.401929.504.07
Andrew Walker3.00616.002.00
 
Photos and video of Harpenden Dolphins v St Albans Cricket Club 3XI on Sat 31 Aug 2019 at 13:00

31/08/2019 - Harpenden Dolphins v St Albans III - St Albans innings

31/08/2019 - Harpenden Dolphins v St Albans III - Harpenden Dolphins innings