Scorecard

Hemel Hempstead Town CC 2nd XI v St Albans Cricket Club 2XI on Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 12:00
St Albans Cricket Club Lost by 6 wickets

Match report Two pieces of news:-

1.⁠ ⁠Thank whatever diety you follow that was finally the last day of the English goonball season. NB there have already been three mens tests, half the first class season, completed domestic T20 competition, womens world cup and womens tests. So plenty cricket, barely mentioned.

2.⁠ ⁠Saints did come better placed than Tuchel's Trundlers, but in truth were lucky to come second in this game.

In weather perfect for cricket, Saints were entertained by a competitive Hemel side. Having quickly got over the troubling sight of the Hemel CC badge over the pavilion doors (think Will Jones' twin brother with Henry VIII fancy dress hat), Saints engaged in a focused and earnest warm up. However, having lost the toss Rory's new, new (new, new, new) look side were inserted on a greenish surface which had clearly dodged the recent and absurd 'can't water cricket pitches' guidance from the Hert's Council.

At 33-5 things looked bleak but this wasnt the product of reckless batting, rather a decent 17 yr old left arm seamer (Carter Botha) who pitched the ball up, generally bowled straight, and swung it late. Six overs, four wickets, three bowled and one LBW gutted the Saint's batting effort. (The young lad from the other end wasn't bad either). The last 20 overs were a contrast as the track flattened out under a beating sun. Despite some accurate bowling from the Hemel spinners, a combination of Rory, (40, new middle and leg guard, thereby avoiding a string of 'atrocious LBW decisions'), Hammer (21, watchful), John Shaw (40, some lusty blows, yes, it happened), and Ryan Magee (15*, tidy) got Saints up to 159 all out.

The second half was always going to be challenging but Hemel batted carefully, leaving wide ones, blocking straight ones and hitting the bad ones. In other words, good cricket.

Noteworthy though was the pressing opening bowlers, Hammer and Magee who kept the lid on things backed by some clever field placings and general athleticism, the BFG's dodgy hamstring aside. At 61-3 after 20 overs Saints thought they were in with a sniff but these 'Superior' balls go soft and pitches flatten out. Alexis bowled an attacking line from round the wicket, so did John Shaw, both caused some difficulty and on a different day with more scoreboard pressure would have taken more wickets.

Hemel eventually met the 159 target in the 41st over, four wickets down. Which shows that par was probably 220-ish (recent games at HH were coming in with higher scores).

One lesson: Get to (say) 20 overs with no more than three wickets down, you're in with a shout. If not, on a decent track, you'll struggle.

Champagne moment: a crunching drive from Rory which raced past mid off's left hand before he'd moved.

Mardelli Rascal moment: a one handed stop at cover by Jimmy Rosson saving three. Who knew his arms were than long?

Lemonade moment: Alexis padding up to their off-spinner on a turning track.

Next week we play Welwyn at home. Winnable game. Probably need to win it.

MOTM - John Shaw (batted and bowled well but left fines early)
DOTD - The top order (bar Rory)
Shot of the day - Rory cover drive off the good bowler
HMOTD - there weren't any moments that were holy.

St Albans Cricket Club 2XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
17w 1b 4lb 
for 10 wickets
22
159		        
Zach West b C Botha 4 13 1 30.77
Andy Rudlin lbw D Butler 5 13 1 38.46
Oliver Coulman lbw C Botha 0 3 0
Rory Law b S Hayden 40 55 7 72.73
James Rosson b C Botha 2 6 33.33
Jithin Balan b C Botha 4 6 66.67
Adam Hounslow lbw S Hayden 21 61 3 34.43
Alexis Awonuga lbw M Petchell 5 6 1 83.33
John Shaw ct Unsure b J Smart 40 54 6 74.07
Ryan Magee Not Out  15 54 27.78
Abhishek Roy-Choudhury ct S Hayden b J Smart 1 9 11.11

Hemel Hempstead Town CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Carter Botha9.322245.502.32
Drew Butler10.0245145.004.50
Matthew Petchell10.0226126.002.60
Stanley Hayden10.0038219.003.80
Jimmy Smart3.201427.004.20
Will Langley3.01800.002.67

Hemel Hempstead Town CC 2nd XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
23w 2lb 
for 4 wickets
25
162 (40.5 overs)		     
Aaron Wilson lbw A Awonuga 37 81 7 45.68
Rishi Jakkappagol b R Magee 6 16 1 37.50
Kam Akhtar ct Unsure b A Hounslow 9 24 1 37.50
Jimmy Smart ct Unsure b A Hounslow 0 4 0
Neil morgan Not Out  52 78 8 66.67
Will Langley Not Out  33 42 8 78.57
Matthew Petchell  
Ryan Wilson  
Stanley Hayden  
Carter Botha  
Drew Butler  

St Albans Cricket Club 2XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Adam Hounslow10.031628.001.60
Ryan Magee6.5328128.004.10
Abhishek Roy-Choudhury2.001900.009.50
Alexis Awonuga8.0032132.004.00
John Shaw10.003900.003.90
Zach West4.012600.006.50

  • Umpire :
    SK
  • Scorer :
    Ourselves