Scorecard

Bentley Heath CC 2nd XI v St Albans Cricket Club 4XI on Sat 07 Jun 2025 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 10 wickets (run rate)

Match report With the forecast bleak and chances of getting a full game bleaker the SACC 4th XI travelled to Bentley Heath, a lovely ground tucked on the edge of High Barnet. A close game was expected, with the opposition just above the 4s in the table and boasting the league’s current top scoring batter. In their own team the 4s were boasting a plethora of returning players, with considerable experience at 3rd XI cricket.

Discussion of what to do at the toss was fierce, with stand in captain Nisar favouring batting first, but other senior players favouring bowling on a day which would likely see rain effected overs. It was those senior players who triumphed, Nisar winning the toss and deciding to bowl first.

Deshpande and Button were trusted with the new ball, with the instruction from Nisar being to target taking wickets and not to worry as there were a number of bowling options available. Button didn’t take long to oblige, bowling searing pace (for a spinner) and dismissing the oppo captain in the 1st over, a ball that didn’t get above knee height. More wickets didn’t take long to follow, with tight lines and lengths restricting runs and building pressure. It wasn’t long before Deshpande found his first wicket, back to back LBW appeals eventually drawing the finger from the umpire. Both openers bowled incredibly well, and restricted runs in the period to follow, but it would take a few overs before Deshpande could break the 3rd wicket spell, plucking a firm drive out of the air to claim the set batsman caught and bowled. At this point Button was replaced by Davey, who after a couple of looseners found his line well, taking his one and only wicket with a seed that jagged back in taking the top of middle.

At the other end Walker replaced Deshpande and a series of tight overs restricted the run rate further despite the Heath’s best batsman being at the crease. Drinks would come with no further wickets fallen, but the score a measly 54-4. A great start for the Saints despite the intermittent rain. After drinks Davey and Walker continued, with the latter taking his first wicket with a delightful bowled. Vijender replaced Davey to continue the squeeze and immediately found a wicket, a regulation slip catch on his second ball (IYKYK). At this point, with Walker bowled out having gone for only 26 off his 8 (a superb spell) Hicksy came into the attack. Throughout this time period the set batsman continued to pick up runs and looked to accelerate in the last few overs. Despite the forecast of rain, he clearly felt it was time for a BBQ, running out first his partner (great fielding by Wright) and then himself coming back for a suicidal second (again great fielding by Nisar Jr). Bentley Heath closed on a subpar 126. A seriously impressive bowling and fielding display by St Albans.

With rain due, and a sub par total to chase, captain Nisar was encouraged to agree a short tea break and open with an aggressive partnership. Duly he chose himself and Mr I Don’t Even Like Cricket Wilton. The first three overs set the tone, with multiple boundaries coming off loose bowling and the score racing to 16. The Chase had been started.

At this point the first downpour came, with the covers being introduced for about 10 minutes. It came and went quickly, and so the saints were eager to continue and get through 20 overs to ensure a game. Nisar and Wilton strode back to the crease and continued where they left off, putting away the bad ball and running incredibly well. They were helped by some questionable fielding, a couple of chances going down and a number of over throws. At this point the rain came, but the batsman were resolute and the game never felt dangerous. St Albans had bowled in the rain so they would bat in the rain, despite the complaints from the opposition.

Nisar moved to 50, with Wilton on 40, the run rate was clearly reached. The instruction came to block out the last 4 overs to constitute a game quickly, much to the Heath’s irritation, and what followed was a quick 15 minutes of the ball being blocked back to the bowler.

The game won as soon as 20 overs came, Heath effectively conceding that they didn’t want to continue or wait for a break in the rain. It was all amicable in the end, the opposition conceding that Saints were by far the stronger team on the day.

A great display from the 4s to bring home the 30 points, built on the foundation of a brilliant bowling and fielding display. Nisar and Wilton were imperious with the bat and deserved to carry their bats. Onto the next one.

Bentley Heath CC 2nd XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 7w 5b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
15
125 (39.4 overs)		     
Tagg lbw  b Button 0
Tirimizi ct  & b Deshpande 23 4
Ahangama lbw  b Deshpande 4
Dunnet b  Davey 4
Hussain ct  Davey b Vijender 19 1
Bird run out  S. Nisar/T.Wilton 47 4
Anau b  Walker 3
Collis run out  Wright 8 1
Shubham Not Out  0
Ram ct  Walker b Hicks 0
Ian ct  Walker b Hicks 2

St Albans Cricket Club 4XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Alfie Button5.0015115.003.00
Prathamesh Deshpande8.011829.002.25
Sam Davey8.0122122.002.75
Andrew Walker8.0028128.003.50
Uttam Vijender6.0024124.004.00
Ben Hicks3.40824.002.18
Sulaiman Nisar1.00100.001.00

St Albans Cricket Club 4XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2w 3lb 
for 0 wickets
5
98		        
Nauman Nisar Not Out  51 5
Tom Wilton Not Out  40 3 1
Najib Khan  
Andy Wright   1
Prathamesh Deshpande   1
Ben Hicks  
Sulaiman Nisar   1
Sam Davey   1
Alfie Button  
Andrew Walker   2
Uttam Vijender  

Bentley Heath CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Tilimizi7.003400.004.86
Nick4.002400.006.00
Bird6.001500.002.50
Rajapaska3.001900.006.33