Scorecard

Potten End CC v St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI on Sun 28 May 2023 at 13:00
Match was Tied

Match report The much anticipated first chess valley fixture of the season was upon us and surprisingly new skipper Lawrence was welcomed at Clarence by a full squad at the set meet time despite a rogue Saturday night that ended in many stumbling into Veeda and consequently subway. The journey to Potten End CC less successful, with the recently purchased JC fun bus getting rather lost en route thanks to the navigation pairing of Berry and Mitchell.

Unfortunately, the new season started terribly, toss lost and the saints were put into the field, the new skipper seemingly already losing the dressing room. Bayliss and Winfield opened proceedings, both very much off their short run-ups until a few boundaries were hit. Both bowled nicely, as did Mitchell who was introduced after Bayliss decided 5 overs was more than enough running for his hangover. Murphy then decided his off ‘spin’ wasn’t working so resorted to googlies in an attempt to make a breakthrough.

An appalling fielding effort meant both openers were going very well thanks to at least 5 drops and some dreadful ground fielding. Meaning the Saints were staring down the barrel of a very large total to chase with the score being 118-0 at drinks in the 21st over.

However drinks proved to be the turning point with murphy tossing one up to be smashed down Winfield’s throat at cover shortly after the interval. This started a calamitous collapse for the opposition. Wickets from Mitchell Winfield Bayliss and the golden arm of Berry, who only needed one to have a chance of a hat trick. The less said about the hat trick ball that followed the better. The oppo impressively losing their final 9 wickets for 23 runs meaning a target of 175 was set in 32 overs.

A strong batting line up and a short boundary meant the Saints were confident in the chase. Murphy so confident in the openers (Regan and Mitchell) he led the KFC deliveroo order. Connor either heard wind of this or decided he didn’t want to get any runs today so decided to sweep and miss a full ball on middle stump second ball.

Howse joined Regan and the pair batted nicely dispatching the bad ball before the introduction of their Herts over 70’s bowler spelt disaster for the saints top order. Regan and Howse both used to not facing such grenades were bamboozled by such bowling and departed for 43 and 23. Rory had been appointed KFC watchman if Murphy hadn’t finished his Boneless Banquet in time but this was never really in doubt. Murphy confidently strode to the crease, not feeling the need to take guard. Consequently, he found himself stood on leg stump which resulted in him going back to cut one that hit middle stump first ball. Rory and Lawrence both hit a few boundaries before also falling victim to grenades, clearly something we need to work on in the nets.

This left the score at 90-5, Simms and Winfield being our last recognised batsmen being at the crease. The pair batted sensibly before Winfield chipped one to mid off. However simms was accumulating vital runs at the other end. 30, 40 and 44 were all applauded by the team. Conning the oppo and even some of our own into thinking Simms scored 50. Unfortunately one full toss too many saw Pottens Herts over 70 pick up his fifth. Simms falling for 47, serious jug avoidance.

This left the saints 156-8, 20 needed with plenty of overs left. Berry and Jc at the crease. JC decided this was the perfect opportunity to play hit and run and fortunately, some miss-fields meant this was somewhat effective. Until he decided to kick one off middle stump and was also on his way. The score now 167-9, 9 needed to win. Bayliss entered the crease in trainers and black clads due to his extreme laziness, could he be the hero?

Berry rotated the strike nicely and a lovely straight drive from Bayliss meant the Saints were now on 173, 3 to win. The pressure led to the Potten bower sliding one down the leg side. Bayliss and Berry so confident the ball would go to the boundary and the game would be won they decided not to run. However, screams of run them from the sideline meant the two somehow scampered 2 without being run out and the game was tied. Surely Bayliss would just try and nudge a single into a gap. Wrong. The next ball which Bayliss was convinced ‘was in the slot’ produced a huge slog across the line and the ball crashed into middle stump. Game tied.

The points shared and a true demonstration of what Sunday cricket is about. A very dramatic start to the chess valley season. Credit must be given to Potten End’s bowling attack however the saints will rue not coming away with the victory.

Potten End CC Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 14w 3b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
19
175 (31.0 overs)		     
Pickard ct  Mitchell 73
Lee ct  Murphy 44
Gurney lbw  Winfield 17
Ashraf ct  Mitchell 4
Akhtar ct  Mitchell 0
Stride b  Winfield 6
Reddy lbw  Bayliss 3
Raja ct  Berry 0
Hasan b  Berry 0
Jack P Not Out  2
Wise b  Bayliss 0

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Dan Baylis6.0028214.004.67
Jacob Winfield10.0142221.004.20
Connor Mitchell10.0153317.675.30
Adam Murphy5.0043143.008.60
Lucas Berry1.00321.503.00

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 5w 1lb 
for 10 wickets
8
175		        
Jamie Regan ct  Wise 43 9 1
Connor Mitchell lbw  Pickard 0 1
Matt Howeson b  Wise 23 3
Adam Murphy b  Wise 0
Rory Law ct  Wise 17 2
James Lawrence st  Wise 12 2
George Sims ct  Lee 47 6 1
Jacob Winfield ct  Jack P 9 2
Lucas Berry Not Out  10 1
Joey Curran lbw  Jack P 1
Dan Baylis b  Lee 4 1

Potten End CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Gurney7.004800.006.86
Pickard0.0018118.000.00
Wise10.0050510.005.00
Jack P10.0041220.504.10
Lee4.001527.503.75

  • Umpire :
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