Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI v Knebworth Park III on Sat 25 May 2019 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 5 wickets

Match report At the third time of asking, St Albans Threes got off the mark for the 2019 season with a comfortable victory over Knebworth Park III at Verulam School Playing Fields.

Winning the toss once more, the skipper chose to bowl first again, hoping that the batting collapse demons that had wrecked the previous two results had been cast off.

Button opened the bowling with a vigorous spell, while Winfield nabbed the first wicket thanks to his immaculate length. Murphy, putting some good revs into his bowling, then took a fine caught and bowled as the visitors dug in. With Saunders bowling tightly at the other end (9/4/14/2), the going was tough, and Park lost 3 quick wickets to the spin twins, leaving their score at 66/6. Murphy finished with the excellent return of 3/29. Knebworth Park skipper James Roos looked the most likely to upset Saints' dominance, but fell trying to force the pace against Walker - a good catch to the vari-focalled O'Toole, running back from slip. Moksy, enlisted as emergency wicketkeeper, then executed a sharp (though untidy) stumping, his first in the role. Murphy was in focus again, his stuttering effort at catching from gully failing, unable to return the favour of a catch to O'Toole, earning deserved rebuke. Button, returning from the bottom end, was too good for the lower order, and finished with 2/32.

All in all, this was a fine all round effort from the bowlers and the fieldsmen, as Knebworth Park were dismissed for 94 in the 44th over. Tea - perhaps the best served at Verulam School in many years - was enjoyed in the sunshine.

On the other hand, this SLCG wicket had shown itself to be the worst in many years, with variable bounce and dramatic deviations that demanded constant vigilance from the batsmen. Tricky wicket it may have been, but surely the modest target was within reach.

The languid - perhaps this is doing a disservice to the word? - Naqvi and the determined Ferguson were indeed challenged, but some early boundaries got the scoreboard going in the right direction before the former was dismissed. Ferguson, mixing his usual watchful approach with a bit of extra aggression, kept accumulating. Mistry, using his feet well, and Moksy both punished the loose ball but fell to deliveries that had their name on them, inevitable on this day. When Ferguson departed for a hard fought 22, Saints were 74/5 - not far ahead in comparison, but with Button and O'Toole together at the crease. O'Toole's experience and quick feet very quickly settled Saints nerves, and the last 21 runs were added in just 10 more deliveries.

So, Saints claimed 30 points, to the delight of all on a day when most of the team contributed. Onward and upwards now - but will we see an improvement in the SLCG wickets, which are showing the consequences of a winter of malnourishment?

Knebworth Park III Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 5w 5b  
for 10 wickets
13
94 (43.4 overs)		     
Barwick ct  & b Murphy 16
K.Hassall b  Winfield 6
A.Hassall ct  O'Toole b Murphy 9
Inman ct  Saunders b Murphy 10
Roos ct  O'Toole b Walker 27
R.Hassall ct  Walker b Saunders 0
Sharma lbw  b Saunders 0
Baird ct  Mistry b Button 2
Roos Not Out  6
Padalia st  M.Islam b Walker 5
Large b  Button 0

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Joe Button8.4132216.003.69
Tim Winfield5.03515.001.00
Adam Murphy9.012939.673.22
Andy Saunders9.041427.001.56
Richard O'Toole5.03200.000.40
Andrew Walker7.03723.501.00

St Albans Cricket Club 3XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 1w 4lb 
for 5 wickets
7
95		        
Mo Naqvi ct  - b Hassall 11 2
Steve Ferguson ct  - b A.Hassall 22 2
Sam Mistry b  Roos 14 1 1
Moksudul Islam ct  - b Padalia 12 1 1
Khayrul Islam ct  - b Hassall 1
Joe Button Not Out  13 2
Richard O'Toole Not Out  13 3 2
Andrew Walker   1
Adam Murphy   1
Tim Winfield  
Andy Saunders   1

Knebworth Park III Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Roos8.0412112.001.50
Hassall7.0133133.004.71
A.Hassall6.2320210.003.16
Padalia6.0028128.004.67
 
Photos and video of St Albans Cricket Club 3XI v Knebworth Park III on Sat 25 May 2019 at 13:00

25/05/2019 - St Albans III v Knebworth Park III - Knebworth Park innings

25/05/2019 - St Albans III v Knebworth Park III - St Alban innings