Scorecard

Harpenden IV v St Albans Cricket Club 3XI on Sat 27 Aug 2016 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Lost by 32 runs

Match report Saints, not many weeks back carrying ambitions of promotion, travelled to Harpenden for this bank holiday fixture in search of points to stave off the threat of relegation.

Harpenden chose to bat first on a humid afternoon, with the wicket looking rock hard and the outfield dry. After a couple of quiet overs, Harpenden's Randall and Wade quickly got into stride, punishing anything missing a good length - the lightning fast outfield giving full value for shots - to raise a 100 partnership inside 15 overs.

A super catch by Nick Ralfe saw the end of the damaging Randall, and another fine piece of fielding, Shah's direct hit run out, brought a second wicket, as things tightened up in the middle overs. Najib Khan bowled a solid spell, and Ralfe, Button and McInnes each returned two wickets, with Harpenden all out in the 50th over. 277 runs looked like a mountain to climb, but it could have been much worse from 2-199, and the skipper was pleased with the persistence that had taken 10 wickets.

Saints knew that the wicket was true and runs would flow if they could stay in. After the early loss of Crisp, Hugo Thomas (off the mark with a straight six) and Jones moved things along well. Thomas's departure for 27 was part of a mid order stutter that left the IIIs 5-69 after 17 overs. Shah had got himself in by this point, and was starting to find the boundaries. A partnership with Walker (18) formed, and Saints worked their way back in to the game, with Harpenden now suffering. Walker's miscue curtailed the partnership after 90 runs were added in 18 overs.

Harpenden now took a more defensive approach, conceding singles to Shah, who was starved of the strike. The required rate rose beyond 10, when finally Shah was dismissed for a handsome 96, just short of what would have been a well deserved century. The game now appeared gone, but credit goes to McInnes and Ralfe for adding more runs: the skipper having set a target of 245 for maximum points, this was duly achieved in the final over. McInnes proudly raised his own half century, hitting through the V in the main.

In the end, Saints were just 32 short of Harpenden's big total, and had taken the maximum possible 20 bonus points in defeat - mission accomplished. Much credit to Shah for his fabulous knock, but all should feel proud of how they stuck to their tasks on a challenging day.

Harpenden IV Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
31w 3b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
35
277 (49.3 overs)		     
Randall ct  Ralfe b Walker 67
Wade run out  Shah 56
Sanbrook b  N. Khan 46
Keens ct  A. Khan b Ralfe 25
Bashford b  Ralfe 4
Sanbrook ct  Ralfe b McInnes 21
Elledge ct  Crisp b Button 1
Finch st  Crisp b McInnes 19
Gill b  Button 0
Jones run out  McInnes 6
Gill Not Out  0

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Joe Button9.0161230.506.78
Nick Ralfe10.0155227.505.50
Ben McInnes7.3043221.505.73
Andrew Walker10.0334134.003.40
Najib Khan10.0143143.004.30
Aaron Jones3.003300.0011.00

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 15w 2b 1lb 
for 7 wickets
19
245		        
Aaron Jones ct  - b Finch 14 2
Toby Crisp b  Finch 4 1 1 1
Hugo Thomas ct  - b Finch 27 4 1
Mohammed Shah ct  - b Randall 96 12 3 1
Afroz Khan ct  - b Finch 5 1 1
Najib Khan b  Finch 0
Andrew Walker ct  - b Randall 18 1
Ben McInnes Not Out  50 8 1
Nick Ralfe Not Out  6 2
Joe Button  
George Thomas  

Harpenden IV Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Finch10.012646.502.60
Sandrock10.005600.005.60
Jones10.005200.005.20
Gill10.014800.004.80
Randall10.0059229.505.90

  • Umpire :
    From the XI
  • Scorer :
    As above
 
Photos and video of Harpenden IV v St Albans Cricket Club 3XI on Sat 27 Aug 2016 at 13:00

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