Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 1XI v Berkhamsted CC 1st XI on Sat 10 May 2025 at 12:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 7 wickets

Match report
A glorious day beckoned as the 1XI arrived at a stunning CP with props to Cales for his hard work over the last few months. The 1XI were fully kitted out in new training gear - barring Will Jones and a very late George Sims whose investment in Murganos and Exeter University meant either the size guides were off or Exeter’s stash was preferred (I will let the reader decipher which barrier was for who for the lack of kit).

Regan won his first toss of the season, which made a change from the 2024 campaign and elected to field first, as was the plan and the 1XI headed out into the sun.

Jones and Baylis opened the attack, Big Tank unhappy at finding himself at the pavilion end; so decided that he would carry on his pre-season form at Amersham (9-0-58-0) to make sure he was not asked to bowl at this end again. Whereas Jones got the Readers to talk early on, unfortunately the Berkhamstead batsmen were unable to get near it to yeild any wickets. Likewise, neither could Coulman behind the stumps with the first ball going for 4 byes, perhaps the overestimation of pace didn't help but most likely ability was to blame.

Despite the first over going for 9, (8 not off the bat) Jones concluded his 6 over spell for 9 runs...his hamstring finding life as uncomfortable as the Berko batsmen.

Hounslow was quickly into the attack at the pavilion end and got into his usual stride and picked up two wickets with two of most comfortable LBW decisions the umps would be tasked with. Berkhamstead on the back foot at 87-3 at drinks, the pitch and conditions suggesting this was well below par. Adshead also into the attack, bowling with unfamiliar inconsistency but channeling his inner Capaldi and picking up ugly wickets (sorry not sorry Max).

Regan Jnr and Capaldi combined well to keep the wickets ticking over - Max claiming a couple of his usual unaesthetic scalps - as the Saints began to fatigue in the field with a few characteristic drops (some hard, some less so) but they carried on to toil away in the Spring sunshine, buoyed on by a late one handed worldie by Baylis.

Ben back into the attack and much to Max's dismay, he burgled himself a 4’fa. If it wasn't for Coulman’s inability to carry on his preseason form behind the stumps he would have had back-to-back 5 wicket hauls...this week's would have been somehow less deserved than the previous week's effort.

Nonetheless, the Saints ended up restricting Berkhamstead to 197-9 after their 50 overs. With some clubbing by the middle order getting the travelling side to a more respectable total than was looking possible at drinks, still far below par on a wicket that seemed untroubling for batsmen.

After a tea break filled with Bancroft's lawn care Ted Talk (perhaps a deep dive on McCormick's podcasting network beckons?) the opening partnership of Sims and Regan Jnr began their reply.

As had been surmised at the break, the wicket did indeed suggest that Berkhamstead were below par as the openers found the boundary with ease and rotated the strike well. The pair brought up a half century opening stand in no time and the Saints were cruising.

Regan brought up a well-earned 50 and looked on track to claim the first £100 in the brothers season long century bet, before unfortunately falling to the squad wide favourite of missing a straight one and giving the umpire another simple decision. Perhaps Lynda on the sidelines was secretly happy about this after Bruno had been putting her under pressure all afternoon.

Regan Snr headed out to try and claim the first £100 away from his brother and looked to be continuing his imperious pre-season form as the Saints looked wholly untroubled before Joe somehow managed to sweep one onto his stumps, the score at 129-2 after 25 overs and the game felt comfortably in the home sides hands.

Jones entered the fray and quickly carried on Berko’s exercise in chasing leather as Sims reached his own half century, such a shame nobody (including himself) backed him in the opening week of the SACC Fantasy League.

Sims got into his stride dispatching the dejected bowling and received a standing ovation as he surpassed his entire 2024 campaigns run tally in the first game of the season. With only 10 required, Jones hamstring finally gave up and he hobbled off the field, amazingly given retired OUT! An important point for Berkhamsted’s season perhaps?
McCormick got his season off to a start by hitting the winning run, with Sims at the other end walking off head held high with 82*, an innings of great maturity unscathed by the oppo attack, a clear MOTM performance from the loved-up student.

An important 30 points and the season off to the perfect start for the home side. In reality a gulf in standard was clear to see between the Championship and 2A where each side found themselves the previous season.

Plenty to take away and enough to work on as the season continues for the 1XI as they travel to Letchworth next week.


(Match Report by Oliver Coulman)


St Albans Cricket Club 1XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
8w 4b 2lb 
for 3 wickets
14
198		        
Jamie Regan lbw H Jomegol 50 60 7 83.33 1
George Sims Not Out  82 94 12 87.23
Joe Regan b J Curtis 28 32 4 87.50 1
Will Jones Retired Out  23 28 3 82.14
Tom McCormick Not Out  1 1 100
Max Capaldi  
Oliver Coulman  
Will Bancroft   1
Adam Hounslow   2
Dan Baylis   1
Ben Adshead  

Berkhamsted CC 1st XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mukamil Jomegol8.002800.003.50
Mark Baring7.505400.006.89
Hashmat Jomegol10.0039139.003.90
Jamie Curtis8.0058158.007.25
Navaid Akhtar0.50500.006.00
Luke Frey1.10800.006.86

Berkhamsted CC 1st XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 9w 7b 6lb 
for 9 wickets
23
197 (50.0 overs)		     
Ian Bartholomew lbw A Hounslow 7 35 1 20.0
Alan Gofton ct A Hounslow b B Adshead 43 60 6 71.67
Oliver Todd lbw A Hounslow 22 53 2 41.51
Luke Frey ct W Bancroft b J Regan 21 40 3 52.50
Ben Caidan b M Capaldi 19 37 2 51.35
Joshua Todd ct J Regan b B Adshead 39 41 4 95.12
Navaid Akhtar ct J Regan b M Capaldi 1 4 25.00
Jamie Curtis ct A Hounslow b B Adshead 16 24 1 66.67
Mark Baring Not Out  3 4 75.00
Mukamil Jomegol ct D Baylis b B Adshead 1 2 50.0
Hashmat Jomegol Not Out  2 1 200

St Albans Cricket Club 1XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Will Jones6.01900.001.50
Dan Baylis10.024000.004.00
Adam Hounslow10.011527.501.50
Ben Adshead9.0054413.506.00
Max Capaldi10.0134217.003.40
Jamie Regan5.0032132.006.40