Scorecard

Langleybury II v St Albans Cricket Club 2XI on Sat 25 Jun 2022 at 12:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 8 wickets

Match report With Joe Regan claiming that he had “no choice” but to select Coulman after his century last week and Bancroft’s lively-looking trip to Italy, Howeson again took over skippering duties for the 2s as they (just about) travelled to Langleybury. With Langleybury 2s having been hit for 375 off 45 overs last week, a clearly disappointed Howeson returned the news that he had lost the toss and the opposition had elected to bat.

Having bowled the grand total of one ball in the warm-up, it was Curran (or “JC”, as he insists on calling himself) who was entrusted with the new ball. From the onset, Curran bowled with laudable control, and he consistently evaded the bat with impressive speed and late lateral movement. With the newfound wisdom of fatherhood, Hounslow successfully lobbied Howeson for a field that would not have looked out of place in a test match: no mid-off, three slips, and a gully. Had they not been enjoying the offerings of the Green Man in Offley, the members of the Last of the Summer Wine tour surely would have approved. As is often the tale in club cricket however, having the appropriate field placing in the slip is only half the battle, with Hall questionably deciding to go for a one-handed catch at second slip as the ball was en route to Hounslow’s breadbasket. Seemingly feeling the effects of his bizarre injury and miraculous recovery a few overs prior, a tired-looking Curran ended his praiseworthy 9 over spell wicketless with final figures of 0-22.

At the other end, Broxton was far from his best, including a throwback to the Nick James era with a brief period of bowling round the wicket to a right-handed batsman (and still bowling leg side wides). He did, however, get the first dismissal of the innings, with the Langleybury opener dragging on from an exceptionally wide half-volley. White struck next, the other opener gently chipping one to Hall at mid-wicket just balls after he had moved himself out of second slip, with Howeson later trying to claim some credit by noting that he had “signed off” on the move. White and Hall combined again shortly afterwards, and after Langleybury’s number 3 was adjudged LBW by Barry Vijender (thank you to Utti for standing in as Macca had an appointment whacking his son around in the nets), St Albans were looking in full control.

A sloppy period of play before one of the shortest rain delays in cricket history threatened to shift the momentum somewhat, but a brief dressing down from Howeson seemed to do the trick with Rosson taking the wicket of the only Langleybury player who really threatened to significantly trouble the scorers. Rosson had the safe hands of West to thank; a good low catch from the Sunday 1s skipper despite the unnerving £13 pre-match spend in Marks and Spencer's pre-match spend. Rosson grew into his spell as he went on, including an LBW and another slower-ball dismissal, much to bus driver’s Rudlin’s enjoyment as he later claimed that he’d never seen Rosson’s infamous delivery ever actually take a wicket before. From the other end, Hall didn’t bowl particularly well, but did find some prodigious turn and bounce which brought Howeson’s status as an exceptionally tall wicketkeeper nicely into play. Hall and White combined for the third and fourth time of the day, including a ludicrous juggling act which even involved the ball rolling off White’s floppy hat. Hounslow contributed to his frankly remarkable bowling statistics for the year with a wicket maiden to finish the innings as the Langleybury number 11 expertly guided the ball to Hall at slip. Langleybury all out for 112 and the 2s were well on their way to 30 points, as is currently almost obligatory at St Albans.

If the 2s were confident of victory at half-time, the manner of the chase undoubtedly exceeded expectations. Sharif was at his classy best, consistently putting the meat of the bat behind the ball and rocketing to his half-century without really playing a shot in anger. Despite his new trademark of getting off the mark with a maximum, Hounslow was on just 7 at this point. Triggered for 56, Sharif was crestfallen upon his return to find that there was no information on his strike rate. Eager to impress his daughter with a half-century, Hounslow pleaded to Howeson for the skipper to nurdle it around and take the red inker. Howeson (26*), however, was having none of it, and carried on where Sharif left off. Hounslow’s (28) dismissal was a mere blot on the scorecard as St Albans chased down the required total in just 13.3 overs and before 4 o'clock. A brief time at the top of Division 4B was scuppered by Chorleywood’s victory against Stevenage, but it was still a successful day for the 2s who avoided a potential banana skin. Like the 1s this week, they host local rivals Harpenden at Clarence Park next weekend.

MOTM- Dan Rosson (3-26)
Abbey Aquatics Shot of the Day- Sharif’s straight lofted drive
St Columba’s Holy Moment of the Day- White’s circus trick catch
DOTD- Joey Curran for a long list of Curranisms, managing to rack up a stunning £11 worth of fines in the process

St Albans Cricket Club 2XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 2 wickets
0
116		        
Adil Sharif Caught  56 10
Adam Hounslow Caught  28 4 1
Matt Howeson Not Out  26 5 1
Rory Law Not Out  1
Zach West   1
Andy Rudlin  
Jonny Hall   3
Simon White   2
Thomas Broxton  
Joey Curran  
Daniel Rosson  

Langleybury II Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Langleybury II Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
112 (39.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

St Albans Cricket Club 2XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Joey Curran9.022200.002.44
Thomas Broxton3.0017117.005.67
Simon White9.012137.002.33
Daniel Rosson10.032638.672.60
Jonny Hall7.0121210.503.00
Adam Hounslow1.01010.000.00

  • Umpire :
    Utti
  • Scorer :