Scorecard

Old Owens 3XI v St Albans Cricket Club 5XI on Sat 24 Jun 2023 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 3 wickets

Match report Player of the match: Contributions from the whole team, but Tom Hadden for an all round performance at critical moments.

5s travelled to Potters Bar this week for an intriguing top of the table clash. Old Owens had gone unbeaten to this point and junior research analyst Hadden had told anyone who would listen that they looked a stern test with the bat. On arrival to the ground Cocks and Hadden entered conference about all the reasons why bowling first would be a good idea (strong bowling line up, small boundary, oppo an unknown quantity etc) Cocks listened and sagely nodded before declaring that he would as usual ask to have a bat. Thankfully the 5s lost the toss and were asked to bowl.

Kilner and Hadden opened up against a well organised and compact opening pair who added 24 in the first 5 overs before Hadden struck in the 6th trapping the opposition skipper LBW. Owens 2 and 3 bats then set about building a very solid partnership both reaching half centuries albeit not one where the scoring rate ever got away from St Albans who bowled and fielded well. Nevertheless it was a relief for all concerned when Imran Ahmed removed Taylor for 50. As often happens in Div 11 Old Owens tail appeared to start at number 4, with 4 and 5 falling cheaply to PK and Kilner and 6 struggling to get the ball away. Their no3 managed to farm the strike and hit the ball well at the death to end unbeaten on 84 and take Owens to a respectable 174 from their 40.

On a small boundary, with a quick outfield and a gun top order, Cocks was confident his specialist batsmen could see us home. Everything started serenely with Thomas and Grant putting away bad balls and racing to 32 without loss halfway through the 6th over before Grant slapped a loose ball directly to mid wicket and was caught for a good looking 13. Peter Melling then came to the crease and played some stylish shots with the scoring rate still bumping along reaching 58 after 10 when Thomas slapped a short ball to point to fall for 27. Melling was then joined by Cunnington who batted very convincingly taking the score to 98 off 17 before Cunnington skied a short ball and fell for a quick fire 27.

The mood in the camp was still buoyant at drinks with the score 113 - 3. Those with traumatic memories of last week (9 down chasing 104) sipped their squash somewhat more contemplatively than others but the consensus was that Ahmed and Melling were very capable of seeing us home. 3 overs later they were both out, both caught and the score was on 127 5 off 23, a combination of poor shot selection and unusually high catching standards from the oppo doing for every single one of the top 5. It was at this point that Hadden declared he “hated batsman” as they were all “awful people”.

Captain Cocks then came into bat with PK, moving the total to 132 before PK beat a hasty retreat, over balancing and stumped for a duck mid way through what was nonetheless a graceful pirouette. Sud “I play my way” Suryavanshi was next in and play his way he did, hitting a lovely 4 and a single before his front pad was blown up for 5. A really quite miffed Hadden and Cocks now met in the middle with the score 134-7 off 26, leaving them all of 14 overs to get 41 runs. They agreed that the way to do this was to accumulate singles and twos until they felt that they were well established at the crease at which time they might look to accelerate. And I tell you what reader they only went and bloody did exactly that! Well judged leaves, respect for the straight ball and pressure on the fielders abounded as they moved from 134-7 to 160 for 7 off the next 7 overs before Hadden decided Old Owens no6 bowler was the man to target hitting him for 12 off his 3rd over and moving the Saints within 3 off victory. Cocks was fittingly on strike for the final over “2 . 4” sparking celebrations from the sidelines. Another 5s win for the ages which puts the cat thoroughly amongst the pigeons in the bizarrely scored race for division 11C.

Old Owens 3XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
11nb 4b 4lb 
for 4 wickets
19
174 (40.0 overs)		     
I. Tyler lbw  T. Hadden 5
G. Taylor b  I. Ahmed 50
N. Parokari Not Out  84
T. Fitzlucas ct  P. Khatavkar 8
S. Flook ct  F. Killner 5
A. Hunter Not Out  3
   
   
   
   
   

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Finlay Killner7.0027127.003.86
Tom Hadden8.0341141.005.13
Prath Khatavkar7.0028128.004.00
James Revill4.011800.004.50
Imran Ahmed6.0036136.006.00
Sudhanshu Suryavanshi8.021500.001.88

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
8w 4b 1lb 
for 7 wickets
13
178		        
Hugo Thomas ct  M. Kalvakota 27 29 93.10
James Grant ct  M. Kalvakota 13 15 86.67
Peter Melling ct  O. Elliot 23 40 57.50
Marcus Cunnington ct  O. Elliot 27 23 117.39 1
Imran Ahmed ct  O. Elliot 23 17 135.29
Tom Cocks Not Out  28 34 82.35 1
Prath Khatavkar st  N. Paropkari 0 4 0
Sudhanshu Suryavanshi lbw  N. Paropkari 5 7 71.43
Tom Hadden Not Out  19 18 105.56
James Revill  
Finlay Killner  

Old Owens 3XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
R. Hattrell8.003700.004.62
M. Kalvakota6.0036218.006.00
N. Paropkari8.0126213.003.25
O. Elliot4.002939.677.25
S. Flook5.303000.005.45
A. Hunter3.001500.005.00