Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI v Wheathampstead CC 3rd XI on Sat 10 May 2025 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Lost by 4 wickets

Match report A gloriously-sunny day signalled the beginning of the 5XI league campaign for 2025, with new skipper Imran ‘Immy’ Ahmed at the helm of the ship. Wheathamsted were the opposition and we welcomed them to the home of cricket: the Sandpit Lane astro.

Immy won his first league toss with flair, and we were put in to bat first. Our openers of Finn Wright and Debshali ‘Deb’ Sinroy set about building a total, Wright holding down an end for the first half of the innings and Deb scoring fluently before being dismissed via LBW on 6. Young gun Jacob Broome then stepped up to ‘sweep up a total’ (Walsh’s on field banter had decidedly not improved), but was unfortunate not to truly reap the benefits of his lovely stroke play, being dismissed for 1.

Tom Cocks would then join Wright at the crease, again not truly being rewarded for his performance, leaving the pitch after a sharp catch sent him packing. Skipper Immy then joined Wright, and the pair of them set about the task of inflating our currently too-low score. Immy began bludgeoning the ball all over Sandpit with his trademark military-esque aggression, while Wright remained more circumspect, rotating the strike where he could and showing respect to the bowlers.

Drinks came and went, with Wright being advised to perhaps consider accelerating, considering he was currently on 9 runs after 20 overs. While he had done an excellent job of allowing Immy to do very Immy things by rotating the strike, we needed runs from both ends now. Wright duly accepted the task, and doubled his score in three balls before being dismissed on a regal 18. Holding down an end can be crucial, and that’s exactly what Wright succeeded in doing.

The rest of our batting innings came and went with little fuss, the only other performance of note being 5XI debutant Mostafa, who came in to strike a quick fire 30 comprised of 4s and 6s before departing. Immy would wrap up on a sensational 62, very much saving our innings from a scarily-low total.

Following tea, our bowling attack was opened up by Deb and local heartthrob Ciarán Walsh. Deb and Walsh each bowled some lovely deliveries, with Walsh contributing various wides/general filth for the first two balls of each over before bowling actual decent ones. He was duly taken off after 3 overs conceding only 17 runs with no wickets and was replaced by Mr One Man Team, Immy.

Deb took first blood, a catch at gully securing the opening wicket. Walsh was the catcher, and had to be reminded two balls prior where exactly gully is (good thing he’s not a qualified umpire or anything eh?), but this didn’t stop him claiming a drifter to send an opener packing. Immy, not one to be outdone, would claim a sensational 4fer across his spell, very much keeping us in the game, similar to his batting innings. Various fantasy team owners rubbed their hands with glee having captained Immy, but this glee was to be short-lived.

Immy stepped down and allowed youngster Archie Hill and overseas pro Fin Mcnab to begin fighting this ‘upHILL battle’ in an attempt to ‘mcNAB’ a wicket or two (no, Walsh’s on-field banter has still not improved). The pair would continue bowling tight lines, neither one claiming a wicket but showcasing excellent skill nonetheless. Andy Melling would then try his hand, but also take no wickets, despite the batters commending the swing he put on the ball. The innings would come to a close with the introduction of Broome to the bowling attack, the young man claiming a much-needed wicket to bolster our moods, but only moments before the required total was chased down despite Broome’s excellent bowling.

Overall, a good day out with a disappointing result, despite stellar performances. Immy established himself as SACC’s greatest all-rounder of all time with an unbeaten 62 and a 4fer, while our youth contingent, Broome and Hill, made a fantastic debut for the league. They played brilliantly, in great spirits and we very much look forward to hosting them again! Similarly, Wheathamsted were a lovely side, and were up for a laugh with our Saints. A lovely day out, even if the result wasn’t the one we wanted!



Fineable moments : there will be no finable moment for 5XI this year as skipper Immy promises to back his player regardless win or lose.

A Moment to remember: 5XI welcomed 4 debutant and 2 U15 kids. Club caps and sweet bars were presented to them by club Legend Tom Cocks and Andy Melling,

Comment from Tom Cocks and Andy Melling : We captained 5XI previously, one of the reasons for 5XI exits to give kids chance and play in the adult cricket, good example can be Tom Banks and Ethan Witty and they all struggled first few games but its cricket you will have good and bad days but be positive, good days will come.

Comments from Archie Hill parents :
Thanks so much for being so welcoming to the boys today. they had a great time

Comments from Jacob Broome parents : Yes, totally agree, Chuffed to bits. Jacob really enjoyed himself today.

Match reports by Ciaran Walsh

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 10 wickets
0
149		        
Finn Wright b D. Debare 18
Debshali Sinharoy lbw S. Smith 6
Jacob Broome b G. Playle 1
Tom Cocks ct Unsure B S.Smith 4
Imran Ahmed ct Unsure B F.Playle 62
Praveen Kumar st Unsure B D.Debare 0
Andrew Melling ct Unsure B D.Debare 9
Mostufa Fazle Alahi ct Unsure B R. Bhatti 30
Fin McNab Not Out  1
Archie Hill b R.Bhatti 0
Ciarán Walsh Run out  0

Wheathampstead CC 3rd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
G.Playle8.0220120.002.50
S.Smith8.0122211.002.75
D.Debare8.021735.672.13
J.Gillham3.002700.009.00
F.Playle8.0021121.002.63
T.Lea3.002200.007.33
R.Bhatti1.001829.0018.00

Wheathampstead CC 3rd XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 6 wickets
0
150 (26.4 overs)		     
T.Gillham lbw I.Ahmed 26
M.Lea b I.Ahmed 36
Q.Vaile ct Ciaran B D.Sinharoy 0
R.Bhatti b I.Ahmed 8
T.Lea ct T Cocks B J.Broome 29
J.Gillham b I.Ahmed 0
R Boulton Not Out  37
F.Playle Not Out  4
   
   
   

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Ciarán Walsh3.001700.005.67
Debshali Sinharoy6.0036136.006.00
Imran Ahmed7.022646.503.71
Archie Hill3.402800.007.64
Fin McNab3.001800.006.00
Andrew Melling3.001100.003.67
Jacob Broome1.00919.009.00