Scorecard

Berkhamsted 1st XI v St Albans Cricket Club 1XI on Sat 31 Jul 2021 at 12.00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 6 wickets

Match report After the hairdryer treatment from Capaldi last weekend, a much-improved performance was required from the 1XI.

On Simon White’s second trip to Berkhamsted of the season, the Saints were greeted to a damp and overcast morning. Bowl first was the only option and Capaldi delivered again – heads proving fruitful.
After a week of jibes about May’s figures the previous weekend, Billy was in search of a redemption story. He did not have to wait long. Bowling very well down the hill – akin to Lord’s in the mind of 1’s brainiac Perrin – Billy picked up the opening wicket in the 2nd over. The Harpenden Exiles partnership of White and May proved an effective one. White rolling back the years, forcing the batsmen back and both restricted the runs well. White was rewarded for his efforts by both a brilliant catch and dreadful catch all in on. Baylis awfully misjudging the distanced of a ball chipped up to mid-off, he then leapt in the air and took a one handed screamer to put an end to the Berko opener’s innings.

The wickets began to fall at steady intervals, with some good fielding to back up the bowling. As both openers had bowled well it was important that the pressure stayed on the Berko batsmen. Up stepped Dan ‘Veeda VIP’ Bayliss. After an early night and a protein powder breakfast he ran in and carried on the brilliant start May and White had made. Backed up well by Capaldi – who started his first 3 overs without conceding a run. St Alban’s were in a commanding position.

What happened next began the bizarre rain related events that underpinned the match. As rain fell steadily, but by no means with huge threat the umpires decided that it was fine to carry on – the match on the next-door ground continuing also. However, the Berkhamsted batsmen decided it was far too threatening for them and walked off the pitch. The umpires’ mere spectators.

After St Alban’s had controversially put the covers on the wicket, they were rolled off minutes later. The umpires deciding it was fine to play all along, much to exasperation of the Berkhamsted faithful.
After protesting about the worry of losing his wicket in the rain, the on-strike batsmen proved himself correct. Trying to pull a Baylis bouncer into oblivion but reaching no further than Baylis’s follow through. Gleeful celebrations ensued.

St Alban’s slowly but surely finished off the final couple of batsmen. Berkhamsted posting small total of 81. A brilliant effort coming off the back of the drubbing at Redbourn.
After a shortened tea interval St Alban’s began the chase. Capaldi picking up boundaries in the first over, one resulting in losing the ball. The rain then fell much harder, and players were forced from the field. Tucked away in the away dressing room listening to May’s stories of the hundred runs he scored in the week (78 rounds up too and therefore counts as 100). St Alban’s hadn’t realised the covers were off and play was due to begin in 5 minutes. Perrin in particular threat of being timed out as he made sure he finished his bag of salt and vinegar twirls before heading back out.

Unfortunately for Perrin he was back to his snacks much sooner than he’d had preferred, unable to hit the 90m six he’d envisaged. Capaldi and Regan knocked the ball around nicely, picking up boundaries along the way, on a much slower outfield than the 1st innings. Capaldi dismissed for 19 brought Coulman to the crease to carry on the work himself and Regan had been doing.
The pitch, with a little spice in it, meant the runs were not easy to come by. Both ran well and Regan played with good composure, duly picking up another Abbey Aquatics Shot of the Day before being well caught in the slips. A predictably bizarre Hall innings came and went, 2 paddle sweeps, 2 runs, 1 wicket.

With only 14 required, the Berkhamsted team decided it was again raining too much for them and brought the covers in without the umpires say so. Much to the bemusement of incoming batsmen Howeson and Coulman. The umpires at this stage were having none of it, told them to take the covers away and the final runs were ticked off in the following 2 overs.
A performance world’s apart from the previous week, keeping the 1XI within shooting distance of promotion. The words of Max ‘Wisdom’ Capaldi ringing true in the 1XI’s ears, if we win all our games, we will get promoted.

Berkhamsted 1st XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 12w 2b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
17
81 (38.5 overs)		     
Gareth Preedy ct  D Baylis b S White 7 13 1 53.85
Charlie Doe lbw  B May 1 9 11.11
Luke Frey b  B May 1 10 10.0
Ben Oldham ct  O Coulman b S White 7 33 1 21.21
Adam Scotcher b  D Bayliss 25 46 3 54.35
Daniel Chrispin ct  C Mude b D Bayliss 0 10 0
Nathaniel Cunnold ct  J Regan b D Bayliss 3 17 17.65
James Bell ct  D Bayliss b D Bayliss 0 12 0
John Koutalidis b  G Sims 5 22 22.73
Rupert Wilson ct  M Capaldi b M Capaldi 7 38 18.42
Charlie Lound Not Out  8 23 1 34.78

St Albans Cricket Club 1XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Billy May10.0323211.502.30
Simon White10.031628.001.60
Max Capaldi7.5312112.001.53
Dan Baylis7.011844.502.57
George Sims4.00818.002.00

St Albans Cricket Club 1XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 3w 4b 1lb 
for 4 wickets
9
82		        
Max Capaldi ct  B Oldham b B Oldham 19 21 3 90.48 1
Steven Perrin ct  C Lound b B Oldham 0 2 0
Joe Regan ct  G Preedy b B Oldham 32 44 4 72.73 1
Oliver Coulman Not Out  20 33 1 60.61 1
Jonny Hall ct  R Wilson b B Oldham 2 2 100
Matt Howeson Not Out  0 5 0
Dan Baylis   2
George Sims  
Chris Mude   1
Simon White  
Billy May  

Berkhamsted 1st XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Bell1.001400.0014.00
Ben Oldham8.512947.253.28
Nathaniel Cunnold3.001600.005.33
Adam Scotcher3.00900.003.00
Charlie Lound2.00900.004.50