Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI v Northwood CC on Sun 20 Aug 2023 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 17 runs

Match report After some exuberant celebrations the night before following the 3’s being crowned league champions the Sunday 1’s turned up for the final chess valley game of the season, several honouring the evening awards dress code of suits and shorts the lionesses during which it was decided it would be a great idea to bring the boundary in the hope of a high scoring game.

Lawrence continued his excellent form with the coin. Subsequently, it was Berry and Bayliss to open given their red-hot form with the bat. From the outset it was very apparent how the saints were going to go about the proceedings, after berry fell early, Bayliss (30 off 23) and an extremely hungover/drunk Winners were teeing off. Much to the disappointment of the crowd and the wider on-lookers at CP who were regularly being reminded by the CP pod how proceedings were going. Bayliss was then sent on his way, the off-spinner with the help of fairy liquid sending his off-stump cartwheeling.

It was then Mitchell’s turn to watch winners moose anything he could to cow before having a brain fade and sweeping a full straight one and missing. Fresh from a fine knock on Saturday it was then Ralfe who entered the field with the score 109-3 after 13 overs. From ball one Nick found the boundary with ease and reached his half-century off just 30 balls. Meanwhile winners had also reached his half-century before holing out in the deep for a very well made 74 off 46 and the score 188-4 at drinks and pavilion terrace began to question whether 400 could be reached.

Nick continued to find the boundary in a fine fashion quite the audition for the onlooking skippers in the club. JC reminding them and the rest of the park that he could be quite handy in the 2’s should he get demoted to them. Murph continued to door it at the other end on his way to a run a ball 37 all the while Ralfe crept towards three figures and began to bat a little more sensibly after realising he had a golden opportunity to join the prestigious list of clarence park hundreds, a list Murphy takes great joy in telling everyone he is part of, and Jamie Regan is not!

Stu’s turn was then to have the best seat in the house as Ralfe powerfully struck two boundaries to take himself to 99. Fortunately, mum dad, dog and a good crowd of non-playing members of the club had gathered to witness nick nudge the ball to backward point and scamper through for a single to bring up his maiden ton in only 71 balls, well-batted champ.

Contributions from Murray, Lawrence and Mistry helped the saints post a rather outrageous 355, maybe 400 was a little optimistic.

Mitchell and Berry were given the honour of the chess valley new ball, clearly, Berry didn't actually want to do this as he had conceded 8 runs without bowling a legitimate ball and his first over went for 22. Yet he still dared to question the skipper’s decision to hook him. Clearly, it wasn’t a day for seamers as Chennells then replaced Berry, serving full tosses galore and managing to lose a ball into York Road which caused a lengthy delay in finding a replacement. With the score 44-0 after 4 Northwood were flying and Murph and Mitchell were needed to stabilize the run rate. Mitchell made the breakthrough after a smart grab in the slips from Lawrence. Murph and Mitchell added a further 2 wickets each in their 10 overs keeping the oppo behind the run rate.

Ralfe couldn’t replicate his batting form with the ball and after being hit for two fours, the umpire then reminded the bat should’ve both gone for six and asked to be hooked which led to the introduction of Bayliss and his rapid off spin. Murray accompanied big tank and was rewarded when Lawrence juggled successfully at slip much to Stu’s delight as he aeroplane armed down the wicket past the batsmen however insisted it wasn’t a send-off!

The Northwood number 6 was beginning to motor however and some incredibly generous grenades from winners meant for a while they were going at the required rate of 12s. Luckily Lawrence brought himself into the attack and their prem batter skipped past one and luckily thought the wicketkeeper was half competent and walked. Little did he know Connor dropped the ball and took an age to scramble to get it and then whip the bails off. After this the skipper bowled absolute pump and a few including himself were getting a little nervous that we may not be able to defend 355.

Luckily Mistry bowled a beautiful final over taking one wicket and had a rather plumb LBW shout turned down and the Saints were victors by 18 runs in a game that saw almost 700 runs.

Quite a fitting end to a crazy season in the Wonderful Chess Valley league which has seen 2 ties and some thoroughly entertaining games of cricket.

The Sunday 1’s then enjoyed their annual curry/awards night this year with a special dress code, shirts and shorts.
Award winners were:
Dick of the year - Tom Wilton - averaged 0.66
Best bowler - Connor
Best bat - Murph
Best drop - Berry vs Crouch End
Champagne holy moment - Berry 50 vs Headstone Manner
Pick of year – Mistry - 4 catches 49 vs Finchley
Knock of the year – Bayliss, 156 short of double century! Vs Finchley
Tantrum of the year - Westy vs Radiator
Choke of the year - JC vs Bharat, 18 off final over
Shot of the year (shot) - Westy cover drive vs Bharat
Sledge of the year – Wilton - didn’t get invited to interrailing vs Finchley
Stand in captain moment of the year - Adam 4th ball rule vs headstone manner
Village moment of the year - Berry shorts vs Bharat
Over of the year – Berry's first over (24 runs) vs Northwood
6 of the year - Chennells whip over mid-wicket
Moonman performance of the year – Berry vs Northwood
Milestone of the year - Stu Murray, SACC all-time chess valley appearance maker

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
355		        
Dan Baylis Bowled  30 23 6 130.43
Lucas Berry Caught  6 14 1 42.86 1
Jacob Winfield Caught  75 46 9 3 163.04
Connor Mitchell Lbw  22 21 4 104.76 1
Nick Ralfe Caught  105 74 9 6 141.89
Adam Murphy Bowled  37 37 2 100 1
Stuart Murray Bowled  26 36 2 1 72.22
James Lawrence Caught  12 6 1 200 2
Sam Mistry Not Out  13 9 2 144.44 1
Aidan Chennells Bowled  5 3 1 166.67
George Sims Not Out  4 2 200

Northwood CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
S Reeve10.0052152.005.20
J Birah3.0027127.009.00
S Ganesh7.004500.006.43
Z Kureshi7.0063231.509.00
J kenny4.003700.009.25
V Patel2.001700.008.50
J Baron20.002200.001.10
A Rana10.0077515.407.70

Northwood CC Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 9 wickets
0
338 (44.4 overs)		     
J Kenny ct Lawrence 21
C Shah ct Mistry 29
C Sayers Lbw  4
N. Patel ct Murphy 43
S Reeve Caught  17
Zaid Stumped  92
J Baron ct Lawrence 40
S Ganesh Bowled  35
J Bikh ct Berry 25
A Rana Not Out  0
   

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Connor Mitchell10.0040313.334.00
Lucas Berry1.002200.0022.00
Aidan Chennells1.001800.0018.00
Adam Murphy10.0048224.004.80
Nick Ralfe2.002500.0012.50
Dan Baylis6.003500.005.83
Stuart Murray8.0051151.006.38
Jacob Winfield4.004000.0010.00
James Lawrence2.0031131.0015.50
Sam Mistry1.00221.002.00

  • Umpire :
    Jamie Regan (could be late)
  • Scorer :
    Joe Regan and Alfie Button