Scorecard

Totteridge Millhillians CC 2nd XI v St Albans Cricket Club 2XI on Sat 10 May 2025 at 12:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won 130 runs

Match report With constant troubles of the back end of last season and Rory's relentless pre-season badgering firmly in the mind of the 2nd XI, we travelled to Totteridge aiming to start the new season with 30 points.

Pre-season had felt relatively positive, and the skipper had packed the batting with some bad memories of our efforts last year. Totteridge is a good deck, and we intended to make full use of it. Debuts went to Ben Cawood and Ben Wright, and a welcome return for Simon White, back after a 3-year hiatus from cricket.

We turned up mostly on time (Jimmy speeding his way down from Northampton, where much white wine was consumed at a wedding the night before), and warmed up quite acceptably given the early season. Skipper Rory Law won the toss and chose to bat first, leaving everyone bar Dan Rosson happy, concerned that the pre-promised Totteridge tea might hamper his bowling figures.

Two new recruits to bat first, Ben Wright and Ben Cawood. Wright unseen by everyone barring cousin Oli Coulman, who promised he's great at beach cricket, so he must be good! Cawood had struggled in pre-season, but cricket connoisseur Howeson was convinced by his performances in pre-season nets. Both proved correct, and both started steadily, making good use of the short boundary on one side.

Cawood and Wright kept going, undeterred by bowling changes and rotating the strike well. The running was notably excellent, but there was a vast array of very technical shots on display. 10 overs passed, then 20, then 25. At 30 overs the skipper was wondering if he was dreaming (it wouldn't shock anyone that he could dream about 2nd team cricket). Eventually Wright fell for a very composed 77, looking every bit the batter he looked on the beach with the Coulman family all those years ago.

A batting order change was implemented, as Howeson's usual method of dooring it didn't feel situation-appropriate with 18 overs to go and 9 wickets in hand. Rory promoted himself, still feeling his hamstring from a midweek injury. Him and Cawood kept it ticking, going at around 7RPO for a while before Rory holed out for 26.

The bomb squad then arrived, with Jithin (who had been padded up in his hoodie on one of the hottest days of the year) striding in. He then proceeded to spend the next half hour launching it everywhere, with other partners watching for the other end. Jithin reached 59 off just 28 balls, with sixes over the leg side and straight, and didn't give a chance in doing so. He even took down opposition danger man "Riz" in the process. Some knock, which cemented our position in control of the game.

At the other end, Ben Cawood eventually departed, after claiming he only likes opening because he can't hit sixes. His 100 was made beautifully, and he deserved every bit of it. A man of the match performance, followed by a promise that he'd stay for a possibly unlimited number of beers the next week. 292/5 felt like a great score to start the season.

Tea came and slightly disappointed. No hot food on offer and limited time available left us somewhat wanting, but even more hungry (pun intended) to come away with a win. The opening bowlers were fired up. 2/3 of the change bowlers were fired up. One of them had been out until 5am despite promises that he wouldn't. Turns out getting a win is less challenging for the skipper than getting Winners not to drink on a Friday night. Both probably took too long to achieve.

Dan Harvey started excellently, finding plenty of bounce and carry from the Totteridge wicket. As much as dimensions were small, it wasn't quite a road. SWhitey started with one loose over, then found his lengths and lines, causing plenty of problems for the Totteridge top 3. A breakthrough came somewhat by accident, as their opening bat (who also opened the bowling) seemingly tore his quad running a quick single. DRoss claimed that it was his wicket, given his dynamic presence at square leg caused the hurry with the single.

Totteridge's number 3 then decided to play a CPL-like only boundaries innings, getting to 20 off about 40 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. One of his sixes hit Howeson's car, a moment of true irony. Totteridge had started steadily, but slowly, to quite a big chase, possibly with the awareness that ex-county player and ex-prem batter Ben Howgego was in the sheds waiting to bat.

DH and SWhitey set the framework, Winners did the burgling, and the wickets began to tumble the more the required rate climbed. Cawood's dot ball counter started to hit quite big numbers, which talked out the opening bat and their number 3. Onlookers were briefly concerned when Macca turned down a very close-looking LBW off SWhitey, with plenty remarking that it must take loads for Macca not to raise the finger. From a steady start, Totteridge found themselves 4 down after a flurry of wickets fell, two to Winners, one to SWhitey and one to Stu.

Stu's celebration was also fantastic. No notable reaction and then suddenly pumping his fists, "get in there". Gordon Murray must have been proud on the sidelines. Winners at this point looked a little less ill than earlier in the day, and had found an excellent rhythm, throwing a mixture of away-swingers and knuckle balls bowling down the slope. DRoss was introduced and similarly kept control with his cutters going down the hill.

5 down. Howgego walks in. He immediately hits Stu for back-to-back 4s, prompting him to take himself off, and looked very untroubled by the situation/pressure at the crease (although asking for a helmet after watching DRoss bowl seemed an interesting strategy). These were the moments that the 2s haven't always won. Dan Harvey brought back, bringing best bowler on to bowl at best bat. This firmly resulted in a 1-0 win to Dan, bowling a back of hand slower ball that completely outfoxed Howgego. The game felt done.

Winners came back on to do some tail cleaning, with Dan picking another up in a fine spell of bowling, ending up with 2 for just short of 30 from his 10 (would be able to verify this more exactly if the opposition knew how to score), and the game was done. Totteridge's number 11 got out backing away to Winners, despite the fact that he blows it out. A flair stumping from Jithin to remove the dangerous Riz sealed it, with Jithin flicking the ball with his wrist onto the stumps while looking the other way.

This was a very polished performance from the 2nd XI, who will look to build next week. No catches dropped from outfielders. Everyone contributed. The energy and buzz was excellent when the game felt at it's most challenging. Ickleford will present a different challenge, and the process was firmly trusted.


(Match Report by Rory Law)


St Albans Cricket Club 2XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 7w 2b 2lb 
for 5 wickets
12
292		        
Ben Wright ct Unsure b A Chaudhri 77 97 7 79.38
Ben Cawood ct Unsure b S Ahmed 100 134 11 74.63
Rory Law ct Unsure b S Ahmed 26 24 5 108.33
Jithin Balan Not Out  59 28 6 4 210.71
Matt Howeson run out  (Unsure) 5 4 1 125.00
James Rosson b R Siddiqui 4 4 100
Simon White Not Out  9 10 90.0
Jacob Winfield  
Daniel Harvey  
Daniel Rosson  
Stuart Murray  

Totteridge Millhillians CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Totteridge Millhillians CC 2nd XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
 
for 5 wickets
0
292 (50.0 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

St Albans Cricket Club 2XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Daniel Harvey10.0230215.003.00
Simon White10.0326126.002.60
Jacob Winfield9.013348.253.67
Daniel Rosson10.0034134.003.40
Stuart Murray3.0027127.009.00

  • Umpire :
    Macca
  • Scorer :
    Ourselves